Notes:

Birth:
Verify exact identity & relationship to Thos. Johnston.

Died:
COD: Summer complaint 3 weeks, Aged 5 months less 4 days. Ref: ON Death Reg. # 205600358.

Family/Spouse: Emma JANE SHEPPERD. Emma was born est 1870± in Toronto, York Co., Ontario. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. William Henry JOHNSON, (3rd Or 4th?) was born on 9 Feb 1895 in Toronto, York Co., Ontario.

Notes:

Two Johnston brothers Thomas & Robert married two Lawrence sisters, Mary Ann & Margaret Lawrence.

. 1803 Sept 8, Vaughan. I do cerify that Thomas Johnson has buuilt a house and improved Lot No. 21 on the east side of Yonge Street, and that the has clearned the road acvross the front of said lot, all agreeable to tyhe Order of Council, singed R. Figurson, J. P.
Ref: Ontario Heir & Devisee Commission, H1145, p317

Quarterly Sessions of Peace. 1804 Oct 2. - Read the Petition of THOMAS R JOHNSON, Keeper of the Home District Gaol & House of Correction, praying that his Salary may be paid to him half yearly. Recommended he pay the sum of £20 currency, the amount of six months salary, due to him the 10th day Oct. last past.
. 1816 Apr 9, York, Grand Jury: Peter Lawrence, Martin Snider, Johnathan Hale, Samuel Heron, Thos. Johnson, John Willson, Abraham Johnson. Diversion indictments. Those Coates, Assault & Battery.
King VS. William Lawrence & Robert Johnston, Assault & Battery. A True Bill.

. UC Land Grant: Order in Council. 1833 JUL 4, Johnston Thomas. Lot 24, Con 3 York Twp. 1837
[Father-in-law, Rich Lawrence was at Lot 25, Con 1, York Twp., Toronto, ON. ]

. 1837 Toronto City & Home District Directory
Lot 20, Con 3, ESY, John Johnston
Lot 22, Con 3 ESY, James Johnston
Lot 24, Con 3 East side Yonge, Thomas Johnston
Lot 23, Con 3 ESY Henry Johnston.

. History of the settlement of York
In 1834, opposite the Cathedral, on the southeast corner of Church & King, was a framed building known as the Checkered Store painted like a checker-board. King & Toronto St., Opposite it to eastward, stood the jail stood the gaol where Lout & Matthews suffered on the scaffold [1837 Rebellion.]

The first owner of the lot was Thos. & Robt. Johnston, a carpenter, who first held the property from Toronto St. Lane to King St. In 1831 a man named R. A. Parker erected the checked store, a 2 story frame building, selling notions, everything from a needle to an anchor.
. 1811 Apr 9, Saturday. Thomas Johnson, Jur. Sworn by Benjamin Cozens on 23 April as constable Town of York.

War of 1812:
. 1813 Jun 11 - To Thomas Johnson, £16 4s ( also Mrs. Duke Kendrick £15.12.10. who died while on duty in York Garrison, the Society accordingly ordered to his widow.
. 1813 Jun 21 - To Thomas Johnson, £19 4s.
Ref: The report of the Loyal & Patriotic Society of Upper Canada (for the relief of militiamen's families.)

. 1812 Sep 8 to 2nd Oct., Muster Roll of Capt. Samuel Ridout's Company of the 3rd Regiment of York Militia: Lieut. Duke Wm Kendrick, killed - Jan. 1, 1813, Sergeant Jacob Snyder, Private: Thos. Johnson 15 days pd. 17s 6p., John Willson (Jr), Stillwell Willson, Peter Lawrence (plus 85 other privates).

. 1812 Sep 8 to Sep 22. Stillwell Willson & Thos. Johnson. Remarks: Discharged.
. 1812 Oct 16, Muster as above, Peter Lawrence transferred to Rifle Co. 21 Oct 1812, York Garrison 1812. Capt. Ridout's Co.
. 1812 Nov 25- Dec 24. Muster Roll Capt. Hewards Co., 3rd York Militia: Thos. Johnson of York, others: James Ross, Peter Whitney, Sam. Sinclair & Thomas Johnson of Humber. Total 40 men.
. 1812 Dec 25 - 1813 Jan 8, John Willson, 15 Days 7s 6p., also This Johnson, John Montgomery, Jo. Johnson, Danl. Cummer. Contractors in Kings Works, struck off pay & provisions.

. 1813 Dec 25 - 1814 Jan 24: Paylist Detachment of 3rd York Militia, Employed expressing Teams for Transportation of Government Stores.
Priv. Thomas Johnson, 31 days, pd. 15s 6p. Others Jonathan Ashbridge, Wm. Barber, John Kanada [i.e. the Bishop of Toronto], Ensign Geo T Denison.
. 1813 Feb 18 - Feb 24, Thomas Johnson, 3rd York Militia, Capt. S Ridouts Co., 3 days, pd. 3s 6 d. - Returned from contracts in Kings Works 18 Feby.

. 1813 Feb 19, Roll & State of my Company, Capt. S Ridout.
Joseph Johnson on command gone to Niagara with sleigh; Thos. Johnson, K. W. (Kings Work).
. 1813 Mar 25 - Apr 24, Days 31, pd. 15s 6d. Ridouts 3YM. Note1: The next day Apr 25th, Ft. York Garrison will fall to the Americans!

. 1813 Apr 25, Kings Work: John Wilson, Thos. Johnson.
. 1813 Sep 25 - Oct 3 Muster Roll of Capt. John Densions Company, 3rd YM, Thomas Johnson pd. 4s 6p.
1814 Jan 25 to Feb. 24: Paylist BATTEAUX SERVICE Detachment of 3rd York Militia, Employed expressing Teams for Transportation of Government Stores.
Priv. Thomas Johnson, 31 days, pd. 15s 6p. Others Jonathan Ashbridge, Wm. Barber.
. 1814 Feb - Mar 24, Muster & Pay List, as above, Thomas Johnson & 13 others, paid $1. 14S 4p. (Yes dollars - PJA).
XRef: On the eve of the attack on York, Thos. Johnson was no longer on the York Transport Detachment Muster Roll for 1814 Feb 24 to Apr 24.

* * 1814 May 15, York Muster Day:
John Vanzante & Priv. Thos. Johnson, of Capt. Hamilton's Company who were captured at York on the 27th April, 1814.
Signed, Lt Col. W. Chewett, 3 York Militia, 1814.5.15.

. 1814 Aug 28-Sep 8, Thomas Johnson, Days 12, pd. 16s. 3rd YM, Batteaux Service.
. 1814 Sep 23 - Oct 24 - Muster of Detachment of Sedentary Militia employed in the Engineers Dept. at York, Command of Capt. Stephen Heward, John Lawrence & John Lawrence, Jun., John Willson (JR?)
Note2: No doubt employed to clean up & repairs to Fort York which was blown up on the American raid on York in the previous month of April 1814.

. 1814 Jun 10 - Men drafted in Capt. Wm. Jarvis Co., York Militia: STILLWELL WILLSON* formerly of Capt. Ridout 3YM,
* Ira Kendrick, substitute for PETER LAWRENCE*,
Wm. Kendrick substitute for THOMAS JOHNSTON* formerly 3rd Reg. Capt Hamilton,
JOHN VANZANTE, Osborn Cox, all formerly 3rd Regt. York,
Isaac Vanderburgher* of 1st York Militia who is a substitute for Joshua Leack & John Willson of Capt Ridout's 3YM,
Jenlay Cameron of 1YM, under Capt. Wilson, substitute for Thomas Wilson(*?) of Ridout's 3Y Militia.
Note3: All these are relatives* or neighbors & acquaintances - PJA].

. 1812, Awarded Military General Serivce Medal for Waor of 1812
Ref: Military, War of 1812, C3519, vol 2303, p5.

Ontario Land Registry, Simcoe Co., Oro Book 211, p2 [semi-illegible]
Concession Range 2, WATER LOT 1,
. 1816?? Feb, Patent, Crown, to Thomas Johnson, West Part of Lot
. 1821 Sep 13, Registered 1831 Jul 24, Thomas Johnston of Town of York, £29.3.23 W Pt of said Lot.
. 1832 Many 13, Eli Beaman of York*, to Reuben A Parker of York, £38.8,W Pt
Note*: Eli Beamn of York & Whitchurch, well known tavern owner.

. Quarter Sessions of Peace, General Court Minutes:
1821 Apr 10th, p. 567
Against Pheobe [Varder] Kendrick, wife of James Kendrick & John Jelly.
Assault & Battery on one Thomas Johnston.
Witnesses for Prosecution: Thomas Johnston, Nathaniel Carrol, George Carrol*
Witnesses for defendant: Sarah Long, Rachael Long.
Verdict Guilty, fine of 5 shillings with costs.
Note4: The Carrols were fellow carpenters & sometimes they had worked together. - PJA - . -

1833 Toronto Directory: Johnson, William, carpenter, Newgate street west.

RECORDED FOR FUTHER RESEARCH:

. Joseph JOHNSON was named in the WILL of Thomas JOHNSON on 13 November 1834 at York Township, York County, Home District, Upper Canada America.

. He married Elizabeth (--?--).
He was granted execution to administer the estate of Thomas JOHNSON on 25 January 1839 at Toronto, York Township, York County, Home District, Upper Canada,
He was a carpenter in 1842. In 1842 he was a witness to a deed signed by.
Dr William LYON & Catherine Elizabeth LYON in which Catherine described herself as
'...Catherine Elizabeth Lyon, wife of William Lyon of Cuyahoga Falls, county of Summit & state of Ohio, Botanist, Doctor... & daughter of the late Elizabeth Saunders, of the township of Markham....'The witnesses of the deed were: Joseph Johnston, carpenter of Toronto & George A. Lyon of Meadville, State of Pennsylvania, gentleman".
He lived in 1842 at Toronto, York Township, York County, Home District, Canada
He was granted execution to administer the estate of Thomas JOHNSON on 15 April 1843.

. Jane JOHNSON was born circa 1842 at York Township, She was listed as a visitor to the household of Rev. Bishop James RICHARDSON in the 1861 Canadian census at St Joseph Street North Side, St John's Ward, Toronto. She lived on 13 January 1861 at Bell Ewart, Innisfil Township, Simcoe County, Canada She was Baptist. She was also listed in the 1861 Canadian census at Innisfil Township, Simcoe County, Ontario.)

. Mary JOHNSON was born circa 1844 at Canada, Baptist. She was listed in the 186 census at Innisfil Township, Simcoe Co.

. John JOHNSON was born circa 1845 at Canada, Baptist. 1861 census at Innisfil Township, Simcoe Co

. Joseph JOHNSON was born circa 1850 at Canada Baptist. 1861 census at Innisfil Township, Simcoe Co

. Nichol JOHNSON was born circa 1854 at Canada Baptist. 1861 census at Innisfil Township, Simcoe Co

. Stoughton JOHNSON was born circa 1855 at Canada Baptist. 1861 census at Innisfil Township, Simcoe Co. He was naturalized as a US Citizen on 14 February 1893 at Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
Ref: John Dennis UE, Martha Brown UE. & their children & grandchildren.
http://www.uelac.org/Loyalist-Info/extras/Dennis-John/Dennis-John-Children-Grandchildren.pdf

Research & transcriptions by PJ Ahlberg. Thank you. - - -

Ontario Land Registry,
Lot 11, Con1 ESYonge, North York Book 6, p3-5,:
. 1805 Nov 14, Patent, Crown, to Margaret Cochrane, 190 A.
. 1813 May 11, B&S, Thomas Johnson, £100, 190A
. 1832 Jul 11, B&S, Thos Johnston et ux, to James Mitchel, Part Half acre
. 1832 Sept 1, B&S, Joseph Shephard etux, to Wm. Marsh, part 40A
. 1834 Jun 30, B&S, Thomas Johnson etux, to Wm. James, Part 1 A.
. 1842 Apr 23, B&S, Joseph Johnson, to Hannah Johnson, £?, Part
. 1851 Oct 1, B&S, Hannah Johnson, to Margaret A Penneck, £?, Part 1 acre.
. 1855 Jun 15, Indenture, Hannah Johnson, to Henry Johnson, Part 52Half A.
. 1855 Aug 27, Hannah Johnston, to Margaret A Pennock, part 51A.
. 1856 Mar 20, Mortgage, Thomas May, to Henry Johnston, £1000. part 53A
. 1842 Mar 10, B&S, James Ramsay, to Moses Willson, Part 1 A.
. 1858 Mar 20, Agrt., Henry Johnson, to David Boyle tall part 63 A.
. 1846 Mar 23, B&S, Moses Willson, to Church Society of Toronto [Anglican], part 5 perches
. 1861 Nov 9, Robert Willson, to Geo Parson, Part Acre
. 1862 Sep 2, Mortgage, Robt Willson, to Thos. Holmes, part 1 acre
. 1862 Oct 14, Bryant Willson, to Geo Jackson, $440, Part Acre
. 1861 Nov 9, B&S, Wm. Marsh, to Robert Willson, 5 shillings, part 1/16 Acre
. 1866 Jun 19, R.T. [?], James R Johnson & Cordelia his wife, to Thos Breen, $2225, Part 50 A
. 1866 Jun 19 RT, Court of Chancery, to James R Johnson, Part 49A
. 1859 Jan 31, Registered 1868 May 20, A.M. Henry Johnson, to Wm. James, $400 Part 53A

Ontario Land Registry, Toronto Book 683, p90
Lot 6 North side of George St, TOWN OF YORK
. 1808 Apr 23, Grant, Crown, John Kendrick, 3/5 Acre;
. 1814 Nov 14, B&S, W D Forrest eteux, to Thos R Johnston, 1/5 A.;
. 1815 Jun 12, Tos R Johnston eteux, to Thos Johnston, 1/5 acre;
1816 May 6 Thos Johnston, to Sarah Johnston, 1/5 Acre

Ontario Land Registry, North York, Book 6, p3,:
Lot 21, Con 1 ESY
. 1816 Feb 24, Bargain&Sale, Thomas Johnson, to Joseph Shepard, £62.10s, W 30 acres.
. 1832 Jul 11, B&S, Thomas Johnston etux, James Mitchell, all Part Half acre.
* 1834 Nov 13, registered 1836 Dec 15, WILL of Thomas Johnston et ux, to Wm James, Part 1 acre.


See 3106 on Lot 11 Con 1 WYSt. DL sold from Jos Shepard to John Willson, Seneca Ketchum (Trustees)
. 1834 Jun 30, B&S, Thomas Johnson et ux, to Wm James, pt. 1A.
. 1842 Apr 23, B&S, Joseph Johnson, to Hannah Johnson, pt acre.
. 1851 Oct 1, B&S, Hannah Johnson, to Margaret A Pennock, pt 1 acre.
. 1855 June 15, Indenture, Hannah Johnson, to Henry Johnson, S 52.5 A.
. 1856 Mar 19, B&S, Henry Johnston etux, to Thomas May, £1000, 53 A.
. 1858 Mar 20, Agreement, Henry Johnson, to David Boyle et all, 53 A.
. 1851 Oct 1, B&S, Hannah Johnson, to Margaret A Pennock, pt 1 acre.
. 1858 Oct 14, Mortgage, Joseph A Pennock et ux, to John C T Cochrane, £500, 51A.
. 1858 Cec 10, Mortgage, Joseph A Pennock et ux, to Barbara Bond, Part 51A Exception.
. 1861 Nov 9, B&S, Robt Willson, To Geo Parsons, 1/16 Acre.

Ontario Land Registry, North York Book 13, p3 :
Lot 21, Con 1 ESYonge,
. 1800 Sep 4, Patent, Crown to Thomas Johnson, All 190 acres
. 1811 Jun 18, Bargain & Sale, Thomas Johnson et ux, to Alex. Gray £100, 190 Acres.
. 1815 Jan 23, B&S, James Ashely to John Montgomery, £360, S 95A
. 1823 Nov 15, B&S, John Montgomery to Alexander Montgomery Jr.
NOTE: Age to receive land is 21Y = born 1779.

Verify identity:
Lot 20, Con 2 EYS, North York Book 28, p19-20
. 1861 Dec 26, Mort., Wm. Irwin, to Thomas Johnston, $1400, Society, SEHalf of East half
. 1868 Apr 16, Grant, Ann Lightholder, to Thos. Johnston, Jr., $2455, All South to Enc. .
. 1869 Aug 31, WILL 19279, Thomas Johnson, Jr. to Thomas W. Johnston, All Ex 1 Acre in all South to Payments.
. 1879 Apr 28, Disc Mrgt., Wm. Johnston, to Wm. Irwin $11400, Society.
. 1892 Jan 30, Thos. J Johnston, to Toronto Gen Trusts Co.$2000, E Half.
. 1892 Feb 24, Sarah A & Jacob Munshaw, Robt J & Wm. H Johnston, Fanny & Jane Johnston, Eilz. & Robt. Lattimore & Mary Dixon, to Thos. W. Johnston, $1. East Half, Subj to Legacy.
. 1895 Dec 30, Release of Mort., Robt. J Johnston, to Thos. W Johnston, $1000, East Half Except 1 A.
. 1895 Dec 30 Grant, Thos. W Johnson & Ada S his wife, to Robt. J Johnston & Ada S, his wife, $5000. E Half S to M.
. 1895 Dec 30, Mort, Robt. J Johnson & Fanny E his wife, to Thos. W Johnston, $2000, E Half S to M.
. 1896 Oct 28, Agreement Mort., Thos. W Johnston, to Silas Hill, $2000, S Half [Research: Silas Arthur Hill 1870.4.13., York-1902.7.4]
. 1904 Nov 16, Grant, Richard J Johnston, to James Bay Railway Co., $422.80, Part EHalf.
. 1905 Jun 29, WILL 1905 Jun 29 (registered 1934.6.28), Robt J Johnston, to Fanny E Johnston, Exch. etc. $xx, All Ex. part James Bay Rlwy, Pt 97Acres in al.
. 1919 Mar 7, Release, Zelma M Johnson, to Fanny E Johnston, $1000, Allinal.
. 1934 Jun 12, Grant, Fanny E Johnston Exrix. Robt J. Johnson.
.
Lot 21, Con 2 EYS, North York Book 29, p13
. 1868 Jul 30, D.C. John Cummer et ux, to Wm. Johnson, $800. Part A.
. 1841 Apr 1, Elihu Pease, to Thos Johnston, £278, East 50A.
. 1869 Jun 23, Thos. Johnston Sr et ux, to Wm. Johnson, $1, E 50A

Lot 22, Con 2 EYS, North York Book 30, p3
. 1837 Jul 25, WILL of James Johnston.
. 1868 Jun 30?, Grant, John Johnston, $1400, 49A
. 1871 Feb 11, XX, Silas Johnston et ux, to John Johnston, $3000, P SouthA.
. 1879 Apr 2, Grant, John Johnson et ux, to John T Lindsay, A$14,000 Pt 50A.

Verify identity:
Lot 23, Con 3 EYS, North York Book 43 p15
. 1855 Jun 55, Patent, crown, to Thomas Johnson, All 50 A.
. 1864 Feb 15, WILL, Henry Johnston
. 1853 Jun 24, Patent, Crown, to Thomas Johnston, All 50 A.
. 1869 Aug 31, Grant, Thos. Johnston, Sr, to Thos. Johnston, Jr. $1, All.
. 1869 Aug 31, Mort., Thos. Johnston, Jr, to Robt. J Johnston, All & way in all, subj to payment.
. 1905 Jun 29, WILL 12330, Robt. J Johnston, to Robt. W Johnston, $—,Pt 50 A.
. 1954 Jul 14, Rob W Johnston, Robt. W Johnston & Agnes E his wife as Joint Tenants, $1. All 50A.

Lot 24, Con 3, North York Book 43, p 22.
. 1837 Jun 27, B&S, John Hunter etux, to Thos Johnston, £100, S 100A
. 1869 Apr 16 Grant, TJ, Sr. to TJ, Jr. $1. S 100A
. 1866 Jan 29, WILL, Thos. Johnston, Jr, to Wm. H Johnston et all, $—, E90A.
. 1892 Feb 24, Grant Quit Claim, Sarah A & Jacob Munshaw, Robt J & Wm. H, Fanny & Jane Johnston, Eilz. & Robt. Lattimore & Mary Dixon, to William H Johnston, $1. East Half 90 of South Half.
. 1892 Jun 16, Q & Q.C. Mary J Dixon, to Wm H Johnston, $266.66, 90A.
. 1916 Apr 1, Grant, Wm H Johnston & Jane E his wife, tort Myers, $9000, # 90A.
. 1920 Jun 15, Letters of Admin, Surrogate Court, York Co., to Robt Myers, (deceased), Leonard A & Elgin R Myers, [nill $ listed ], E90 A.
. 1920 June 23, Grant, Leonard A Meyers, Belgian R Myers, Admrs. of Robt. Myers Estate, Said Leonard A, Elgin R, Walter R Meeyrs & Norma M his wife, Adelaide E, Janet M Myers & Edith M Martin.
. 1905 Jun 29, registered 1934.6.28), WILL of Robt. J Johnston, to Fanny E Johnston, $ xx, Part 10A.
. 1920 Jun 15, Letters of Admin., York Co. Surrogate Court, to Robt Myers, deceased .
. 1927 May 9, Q.C., Fanny E Johnston, Executor, Robt. J & Robt W Johnston, to Walter R Myers, $350, Way over lane on S part.
. 1950 Jun 8, Grant, Robt W Johnston & Agnes E his wife, to Roy H Rice, $1. - - -

Birth:
XRef to Thos Robt Johnston, see Land transactions.

Died:
WILL. Lot 11, Con 1 E Yonge St.

Thomas married Maryann LAWRENCE, .8th, DUE on 10 Aug 1819 in St. James Anglican Cathedral. Maryann (daughter of Lieut. Richard LAWRENCE, , UE and Mary WILLSON, DUE) was born est 1800 in Town of York (Toronto), York Co., Ontario; died est before 13 Nov 1834 in Toronto, York Co., Ontario. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Two Johnston brothers Thomas & Robert married two Lawrence sisters, Mary Ann & Margaret Lawrence.

. Date of Birth Estimate: UCLPetition at Est. age 18; Married in 1819 at Estimated age 19. Mary Anne has her parents' permission, perhaps indicate she was even younger. Date of death is also an estimate based on the 1834 WILL of her brother-in-law, Robt. Johnston.

. UPPER CANADA MARRIAGE BONDs # 380 & 381,
(Oath of) Thomas Johnston of the Town of York in the Home District, Bachelor, in Oath & saith that he hath obtained the consent of the parents of Mary Ann Lawrence of Long Point, in the District of Long Point. Spinster daughter of Richard Lawrence of the same place, late of the Twp. of York, to marry her the said Mary Anne. That he is himself upwards of 21 years of age & there is no impediment of practice, affinity their being married within his knowledge.
Sworn before me at York, in the Home District, John X JP. 10th day of August 1819, Thos. Johnston.
Witnesses: Robert 'X' Ross & Thomas Carroll (of the Town of York).
Ref: RG5, B9, Vol. 14, Archives of Canada & Archives of Ontario, Three Pages: Oath #380, Bond 381. Envelope.

. ANGLICAN WEDDING:
York, 6 August, 1818. This day were married by special license, Thomas Johnston, of York, bachelor & Mary Ann Lawrence, of Long Point, London District, spinster. John Strachan. This marriage was solemnized between us Thomas Johnson & Mary Ann Lawrence.
Wit: Robt. Ross & Thomas Carroll [who both are also carpenters, as was Thos. Johnston & R Ross who was also the undertaker.)
Note1: Thos. Johnston oath was given after the wedding! - PJA]

Note2. That the UC Marriage Bond says that the groom Thomas has OBTAINED THE CONSENT OF BOTH PARENTS of Mary Ann residing in Long Point. Richard had just sold his property just short after the wedding on 20 Aug. 1819 at Lot 25 Yonge St., Toronto - but retaining his wife Mary Willson Lawrence's properties until 1821. Perhaps the Lawrences accompanied their daughter on the local ship up to York. It could even have been aboard her brother Stillwell Willson's slip-keel schooner that plied Lake Ontario regularly between York & Niagara.

. UCLP 72, J Bundle 12, C2110, p449
To Samuel Smith, Esq. Administrator of UC, Petition of Mary Ann Lawrence, Petitioner is a daughter of Richard Lawrence formerly of York Twp. but now of Charlotteville Twp., a UE Loyalist. Petitioner is marred to Thomas Johnston, Town of York & having never received any land from the Crown, prays, a grant for 200 Acres as a Daughter of an UE.
Mary Ann Lawrence Johnston appeared personally at the General Quarter Session of the Peace at York Court House today 1818 April 14. She is recognized by the Magistrate to be a daughter of Richard Lawrence formerly of Twp. of York, but now of Twp. Charlotteville. She is married to Thomas Johnston of the Town of York, who he did his duty in defense of the Province during the late war. [1812]
Witnesses to her oath: Grant Powell, Chairman of Session & Stephen Howard, Clerk of the Peace. Court House of York.
Signed, Maryann Johnston, York, 13th April 1820.

. TICKET OF LOCATION, # 000297, Not Transferable.
Under the authority of an Order in Council, of the 19 April, 1820 granting Mary Ann Johnston of the Town of York, in the County of York in the Home District,
Wife of Thomas Johnston, Daughter of Richard Lawrence, formerly of York, late but now of Charlotteville, an U.E. Loyalist, 200 Acres,
I do hereby assign to the said Mary Ann Johnston
(Lot Number 3 in the 2nd Range of the Gore) & adjoining Lot 26 in the 3rd Concession of the Township of Oro, In the County of Simcoe,
in the Home District containing 200 Acres, subject to the settling Duties required by the Order in Council of 20 Oct 1818, of 5 Acres cleared & fenced, along the length of the front adjacent to the road, for every 100 Acres granted;
A Dwelling house of 16 Feet by 20 in the clear & one half of the Road cleared in front & rear of each Lot; the work to be performed within 18 months from the date hereof.
. York, 22 Aug, 1820, Signed, Thomas Ridout, Office Survey General; Warrant 514, Entd.
Dec 1, 1825, Settlement Duties preformed, attested & admitted, Thomas Ridout, SGO.

Ontario Land Registry, Simcoe Co., Oro Book 211, p93 [semi-illegible]
Concession Range 2, WATER LOT 3,
. 1826 Jan x, Patent, Crown, to Mary Ann Johnston, All 200 Acres
. Part I?, 1825? Sep 13, Reb. 1831 Jul 25, Thomas Johnston of Town of York, & Mary Ann his wife, to Eli Beaman of Whitchurch, £58.6.8, Said Lot, Pt of ind? of retro? in land?

Ontario Land Abstract Registry Office, Simcoe County, Ontario
Con 2, East Penetanguishene Rd. [then renumbered as:]
Lot 27 East Half, Concession 2, Oro Twp., Wilberforce Street, Book 215 & 216, p181.
. 1850 August, Patent, Crown, to Benjamin Johnston, 100 acres
. 1850 Aug 4, Registered 1853 Jan 8, Deed, to Ben. Johnson of Oro etux, to Wm. Gardner of Oro, £100, all 100 Acres.
Note: 1837 Toronto City Directory: Johnston, Benjamin Con 2, L27, Johnston, Matthew, Con 14, Lot 7, Johnson, John T, C on 3, Lot 12.

. DATE Last WILL & Testament of me, Robert Johnston of the City of Toronto, Carpenter.
Son Robert: The house & Lot west of Mary Ann's with the privilege to the secure belongings;
Son Thomas: The house & Lot west of Robert's with the privileges to the same belongings;
0Daughters Margaret & Sarah: My Lot on Toronto St., north of the right of way, to the rear of the Lot before mentioned, to be equally divided between them, share & share alike:
To my 2 adopted children, MARY & MARGARET.2 JOHNSTON, daughters of my brother Thomas,
[ & therefore, also this wife Margaret's sister's children - PJA]:
The sum of £150 each on their arriving at age 21 or marriage. I desire that they may be supported in the same way as my own children out of my Estates.

The Cholera Plague in Upper Canada
. 1832 Jul 4 - Quebec, number of cholera deaths reported to June 23rd was 1021. Montreal 350; 17 cases & 7 deaths at York, UC. A steam boat had arrived at Niagara, UC, with the cholera on board, but the authorities would not suffer the passengers to land. Navigation had almost ceased on Lake Ontario.
Ref: Connecticut Courant, Hartford, from the Montreal Gazette of 26 June 1832.

. 1832 June 26, Buffalo Board of Health, we have this morning to announced the appearance of the Cholera at York, UC. 23 new cases for 24 hours, both in & out of the hospital.
Ref: Illinois Weekly State Journal, Springfield, Illinois.

. 1834 Jul 30, Wed. - The CHOLERA has again appeared in our city & Province in its most malignant form. The cases as yet are, we believe, not so numerous as in 1832, but in general more fatal. Indeed very few who are seized with it recover - it triumphs over the utmost efforts of human skill & experience. There are, however, a few cases of recovery.
Ref: Christian Guardian, published 1834 Aug 20 ?

. 1834 Aug 13, The Toronto Advocate of 31st ut contains a communication which says, The malignant cholera has shown itself in this city & about 12 persons within my knowledge has fallen its victims.
Ref: Eastern Argus Newspaper, Portland, Maine & NYC Evening Post.

. 1834 Aug 21 - In Upper Canada the Cholera continues to prevail with unabated violence. Not merely the towns, but the small villages & detached settlements on the roads have suffered severely from its ravages. In Toronto it is still fatally present & has made its appearance on the Yonge & Dundas street roads.
Ref: Commercial Advertise Newspaper, NY.

. 1832 Oct 13 -In Upper Canada cholera is spreading in the distant townships, but except at York, its effects have bee less generally fatal then this province.
Ref: Caledonian Mercury newspaper, Edinburgh, Scotland.
. 1832 to 1834, Toronto & Great Lakes coastal towns, were suffering from a Cholera outbreak. - PJA
. 1834 Aug 15th -Ladner Bostick, Snr., a Willson-in-law, also died of cholera on Toronto. He lived near by at 175 King St. East, Toronto.
. 1834 Oct 15 -Cholera in Canada copy of Quebec Gazette. In Upper Canada the disease was spreading rapidly. At York (Toronto) the deaths were, however only from 6 to 12 a day. the disease we are happy to add, appeared from the reports to be generally on the decline.
Ref: Aberdeen Journal newspaper, Scotland.

. The below is recorded for future reference:
Toronto Directories
Mrs. Mary Johnston, House, 230 Front St. W, widow Thomas, Washerwoman 1867
Mrs. Mary Johnston, House, 230 Front St. W, widow Thomas, 1866
Mrs. Mary Johnston, House, 80 Dummer, widow Thomas, 1867, 1870 & 1877
Mrs. Mary Johnston, 53 William, Widow, 1878 & 1879.

Transcripts by P J Ahlberg, Thank you. - - -

Died:
Verify if Oro-Medonte Twp., Simcoe Co.

Notes:

Notes:

Recorded for further research:
. Lot 15, 9 Con., Innisfil Twp., Simcoe Co., ontario
The Upper Landing was more frequently called "Johnson's Landing," after its first settler, Joseph Johnson, Sr. He was one of five brothers of U.K. Loyalist descent, & had originally settled on Yonge Street, between Thornhill & Hogg's Hollow, about the time of the war of 1812-15. Shortly after this, however, he exchanged this Yonge Street Property with a Mr. Davis, (whose hotel, built upon it, has been a familiar landmark for later travellers), taking in exchange the property at the Upper Landing Place on the Holland River. He at once permanently settled upon the latter, & his name from that time onward was connected with the place.
Ref: A History of Simcoe County, Andrew F Hunter, 1909.

. 1804 Oct 2 Tuesday. Town of York,
Read the Petition of THOMAS R JOHNSON, Keeper of the Home District Gaol & House of Correction, praying that his Salary may be paid to him half yearly. Recommended he paid the sum of £20 currency, the amount of six months salary, due to him the 10th day Oct. last past.
. 1804 Apr 10, Read the Account of Thos. R. Johnston, Keeper of the Home District Gaol & of House of Correction from 10 Apr 1804 - 10 April 1805,
amount to £49. Approved.
A Committee of the Magistrates, who had visited the Home District Gaol report that they find it in such state of disorder & filth as denotes great negligence on part of the Gaoler. [ His name name was not stated. - PJA] Clerk of Peace to write the Home District Sherriff to request he will have said gaol constantly kept in a state of cleanness & good order.
. 1805 Mar 5, Petty Jury called & severally sworn, 2nd case: Wm.. Marsh, Jr. Abraham & THOMAS JOHNSON, John Harkie VS Henry Busman, Assault & Battery, Guilty, fined £5.

. 1807 Apr 18, Saturday, Thomas R. Johnson, Keeper of the Gaol Account & Contingent Acct. Approved £40.
. Read a Protest of Miles McDonell, Esq' Sheriff of the Home District, against the insufficiency of the Home District Gaol, also read a Certificate of Joshua Leach & John McBeath Carpenters, relative to said Gaol.
. Ordered, That the Sheriff be directed to have the rubbish & filth removed from the Gaol yard & the Building & that he bring in his account for said service. Ordered that the Clerk of the Peace shall not paid the Sheriff Joseph Hillocks Esq. shall have paid the the reasonably incurred Goal yard & Building expenses.
. Hugh Carfrae, Gaoler, from 10 Apr 1807 to 10 Ap. 1808, £17.
Ref: Twenty-first Report of Dept. Public Records & Archives of Ontario.

. 1810 Apr 21, Sat. Hugh Heward Assessor for the Town of York for the year 1810, reported to the court the following percent, who had neglected or refused to give to him a list of all their Ratable property for the year 1810, & were ordered to be summoned as follows, T R Johnston, Fined 40 shillings & ordered to be summoned to attend next session. &
John Vanzantee, ordered to summon James Wood of Toronto.
. 1811 Oct 12, York. Path Master Jacob Smith produced his account for statuary labour, there appeared to be 5 defaulters: J R Johnson, 6 days labour.
. 1811 Apr 13, Sat. Persons appointed Constables in Town of York: Thomas Johnson Junr. Sworn on 23 April 1811.
. 1812 Apr 18, Constables appointed for Town of York, Robert Johnson, Sworn.
. 1812 Apr 30, York, York. On the 18 instant appeared pursuant to their notifications: Thomas Johnson, a Path Master, York Twp. Robert Johnson, appointed on 18th Inst., did not attend, Ordered that Clerk do Notify him to shew cause &c. on the 9th May next.
. 1814 Apr 20 Summoned to shew cause why execution should not issue against them for not paying the amount of their Assessment of Last year, Thomas Johnson, Twp. of York. Adam Johnson, Jos. Kendrick, Thomas Johnson. Constables appointed in East Riding of York Co, Town of York, Robert Johnson, John Vanzanatee Junr., Sworn.

VERIFY IDENIFY for clarification:

* UCLP14 C2108, p804, Thomas Johnson, Lot 21 East side Yonge St., cleared 5 Acres, Signed for Thomas (crossed out Nicholas) Johnson & Lawrence Johnson.
UCLPet 11, Joseph Johnson, Lot 20 Westside Yonge St. 10 A cleared & House.
UCLPet 15 Nicholas Johnson, Lot 20, ESY 7 A cleared,
UCLPet 16., page 809, Asa Johnson, First settler in the wilds of Yong St. [Possible difference family]; wife Hannah Johnson, UCLPet 35, p890, 5 children, of which 2 are sons].
UCLP47, p931, Lawrence Johnson, Lot 19 ESY, considerable improvements, 7 A cleared.
UCLP48. p 934, Abraham Johnson, Cultivated upward 20A land, house larger than required, by Justice of peace, Abraham writes 12 A cleared,

. 1833-4, York Commercial Directory Directory, Capt. T H Johnston, of the 66th Regiment, Garrison;
Regiment of Line, Serving in York, 66th Regiment of Infantry,
Commander, Maj James Baird, Capt. T H Johnston, about 200 men.

Toronto & County of York, Ontario, Published 1885., Vol. 2
Thomas R Johnstone, flour & feed merchant, was born in Little York in 1829, on the present side of the Post-office, & is the 7th in a family of 9 children. His father, John Johnston, came to Canada from Scotland about 1798, with his father's family. His father carried on the business of a butcher & drover until his death in 1834. He left a family of 4 daughters & 2 sons, as follows: John, living in the United States, Thomas R, Almeria, Sarah, Dead
Adeline; & Isabella married to T W Gosford, Aurora. Mr. Thomas R Johnstone has been engaged in the flour & feed business since 1882. - - -

Birth:
Verify. Alt Name Joseph or Thomas, a relative.

Died:
Son is Thomas Johnson Jr.

Notes:

PART ONE:

Richard is name after his grandfather, Richard Lawrence, Esq., [The Third, 1719-1726.] & in family remberances going back to Richard the Lionhearted.

. 1771 July 5, List of letters, remaining in the Post Office, Richard Lawrence, Shrewsbury.
Ref: NY Gazette.
. Richard Lawrence, Upper Freehold. Ref: Roster of the People of Revolutionary Monmouth County.

. 1783 New Brunswick, Chrineyonce Vanmater & (Lieut.) Richard Lawrence, UE. petitioned together for land in Prince William Co., NB.
Note1: This land grant adjacent to his brother John Lawrence, was not taken up because it had previous legal encumbrances. - PJA 2101.

. Richard Lawrence carried a English Bible giving his & siblings' birth dates. He must have carried this Bible with him at the end of the American Revolution & then to NB & finally to Upper Canada. The Bible was then given to his youngest child, Rebecca. Grandson Walter Hamilton is the last known owner of the Lawrence Bible.

. 1776 Jul 15, Letters Remaining in the Post Office, New York: Richard Lawrence, Staten Island. Ref: New-York Gazette & Weekly Mercury.

. OLD UNITED EMPIRE LOYALIST LISTS: Laurence, Richard, Home District, Loyalist from N. Brunswick. Ref: Appendix, Appendix B.

. 1776 MUSTER: Richard Lawrence:
. 1777 Feb - 24 Apr - Lawrence, Richard - Private, General Hospital (2 Richards) Muster roll of Capt. Wm. Gray's NYV. Lieut. 1st Co.
. 1777 Aug 24, - Private Richard Lawrence, 3rd Bat De Lancey's Brigrade, C1880,p1
. 1777 October 24 - Capt. Gilbert C Willett, 3rd Battalion of Oliver De Lacey, p. 28, at Long Island, #20, Richard Lawrence [Job" Tat? Host or Western? blurry]. {Ref C1880,p7)
. 1777 Dec 24, Priv. RL, 3Bat DeLancey's Brigrade, C12880,p16;
. 1778 Apr 24 - Rich. Lawrence, 3rd Bat. Oliver DeLacey. C1880, p22 & ?Compare Priv RL, NYV, C1874p5;
. 1778 Apr 24, Priv RL, #BDeLancey's Brigrade, C1880,p22, 38;
. 1778 Jun 24, Priv RL, 3BDeL, C12880,p28;
. 1778 Sep 4 - C1880, p38; 1778 Oct 24, c1880, p39;
. 1778 Dec 24, Priv RL, 3BDeL, - Discharged Dec 24th '78. C1880,p50.
. 1779 November 29, Capt. Thomas Hewlett's Co. NYV - Savannah, Quarter Masters Gen. Dept. & Hewlett's Coy. C1874p49;
. 1781 Apr, Priv RL, New York Volunteers, c1874,p60 & 1781.12.24 p82;
Ref: British Military & Naval Records, p49, RG8 Vol C, Printed, 1874. Elsewhere there is a UEL claim for supplies of horses & wagons for Trenton New Jersey.
Ref: British Military & Naval Records, C1880,p1, RG 8, C Series, & Copy Arch. Canada: Ward Chipman Muster.

British Headquarters Papers (Carleton Papers or American Manuscripts):
Richard Lawrence (31688)
. 1782.5.27, Account for Outstading debs for forage, New York, commissary General Dept., Doc 4668, Film M355, page 4668, Item 31688;
. 1783.11.21, List of Original Wills, Wills in custody of Secretary of NY, page 9671 (14); Film M366, Item 31689.

. NB Land Petitions:
* Note2: 1787 After the American Revolution four Lawrences lived near each other in Saint Johns, New Brunswick: Mrs. Alice Lawrence Leonard (Thomas) Lot 1; Lieut. John Lawrence Lot 101; Lieut. Richard Lawrence was on Lot 169 on the other side of the Saint John River; along with sister Mrs. Margaret Lawrence Nicholson (Arthur) at Lot 52. An important Lawrence family friend, Rev. J Odell of NJ, was adjacent to his land grant as well.

. Richard gave up his land claim in Prince William because of a prior legal entanglement by an earlier French Canadian inhabitant. Richard also made failed landed petitions with his Monmouth, New Jersey neighbours', Corneilis VanMater* & Capt. Richd. Lippincott, (BUT much later he would again be adjacent to R. Lippencott on Yonge St., Toronto) - PJ Ahlberg.
Note3: *John Vanmater was a witness to Richard's father, William Lawrence, d. 1795 in Middletown, NJ.

. 1782 May 27, Richard Lawrence, Outstanding Debts for Forage, New York, Accounts, Commissary General Dept., pg. 4668, (1.3).
Ref: British Headquarters Papers, (Carleton Papers or American Manuscripts), Microfilm M355, Ref: MG23 B1, Item Number 31688.

Research Item, (probably someone else, but should be verified):
. 1783.11.21 - Richard Lawrence, List of Original Wills, Document: Will in custody of Secretary of NY.
Document Pg. 9671 914), fonds: British Headquarters Papers, Carlton Papers or American Manuscripts, Microfilm M2369,
Ref: MG23 BA Item # 31689.

. 1783 DEC 12, PROVINCE OF NEW BRUNSWICK LAND GRANT, NB Archives. George the Third grant to Rev. James Fraser, Edward Rogers, Anthony Rogers, Arthur Nicholson, Esq., John Willson, Junior, Richard Lawrence, Stillwell Willson & James Walsh 2,238 acres on the northwest branch of the River Miramichi in the County of Northumberland. The first track beginning at the alder Stake on the easterly bank or shore of an Island being in the said Branch.
To John Willson Junior: Lot 1, 200 Acres; To Richard Lawrence the Lot 2 , containing 232 acres, Stillwell Willson, Lot 4, 240 acres. Registered the 12 December, 1793, Thomas Carlton, Lieutenant Governor, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada.

. 1789 Aug 11. To His Excellency Thomas Carlton. Province of New Brunswick, Memorial of Richard Lawrence of Miramichie,
Humbly Shewth, that our memorialist has been all the last War in the service of His King & Country, most of the time as a Volunteer in the Army. That a lott of Land has been assigned to him at Prince William in the County of York, but being then a young single man he resigned it. That he is now settled at Miramichie & likes the country, wishes to live by farming in reference to fishing.
Your Memorialist therefore prays you Excellency may be pleased to grant him a Lot of Land adjoining a lot assigned to Arthur Nicholson, Esq. on the north east side of the North West Branch of Miramichie & your memorialist is duty bound will Pray.
Richard Lawrence, [Undated, but delivery time about 4 - 6 weeks.]
Envelope side: Memorial of Richd. Lawrence - Complied with 25th Sept. 1789.

. 1795 June, there were still only 14 housed in the Town of York.

** See photo Photo Original Land Patent may be found at North York Central Library, Willowdale:
. UC Land Petition 5, Bundle, L Bundle 2, 1795 of York, Richard Lawrence, Sr.
Ref: C2124, p804. Ont. Archives. Original document is preserved at the North York Public Library, Yonge Street, Toronto. Very large parchment document with an attached was large beeswax seal.
*Researchers who had other relatives who received an UC Land Grant may wish to see what this very impressive document looked like. This also helps in part to understand why the administration of land granting was so slow.

. 1796 Apr 6 - To His Excellency John Graves Simcoe, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor & Commissioning his Majesty's forces in Upper Canada. Major General.
The Memorial of Richard Lawrence Late of the Province of New Brunswick in Nova Scotia That your Memorialist Entered in the Service of His Britannic Majesty at the beginning the Late rebellion continued in the same till the Peace of Eighty three & that since that time he accepted a Commission of first Lieutenant for the County of Northumberland in New Brunswick which he is ready to produce if required - & being Desirous of remaining a Subject to the King of Great Britain in this Province.
Humbly Prays that his Majesty's most gracious bounty in Lands may be Extended to your memorialist for the following Lotts Viz Number 25 on Yonge Street Eastward & 2 other Lotts in the Rear of Said Number 25 second Concession also a Lott in the Town of York, Number 18 in the second range Which he has improved as well as No 25 Yonge Street & such other quantity of Land as to your Excellency in your Wisdom may seem meet - & your Petitioner as in Duty Bound will ever pray. Signed, 6 April, 1796, Richard Lawrence.

There are 5 other Upper Canada Land Petitions for Richard Lawrence.
. The original parchment & seal, LAND GRANT for Lot 25, Concession 1 Yonge Street, east side, 200 Acres, will be found at the Canadian Room, North York Public Library, on Yonge Street, Toronto.
. 1796 July 30 - Granted Lot 18 D, Duke St., Town of York / [now renamed as: 79 Adelaide, Toronto.] (The next Lot 19 Duke, was granted to Samuel Osborn & his wife, Mrs. Alice Willson Osborn).
. 1802 May 5 Date of Patent or 18 Duke St., D Block, 1/5 Acre to Richard Lawrence.
Ref: Robertson's Landmarks of Toronto, Vol 1, p339.
. Lots 1 & 2, Con 4, Vaughan Twp., 400 Acres.
Note4: 1796 Oct. 8, is the day he paid his land settlement fees & is sometimes incorrectly quoted as the day he was FIRST granted this land. - PJA.

. UCLPetition 15, Y Batch 5, p417. -1801 Jul 16 - East Side Yonge St, Lot 25, Nothing done to the Street. [i.e. no logs cleared].

. 1801 Dec 15. East Side Yonge Street, Lot 25, Logs in the Street, not burnt.

. 1802 Feb. 21, Lot 1, Con 5, Vaughan Twp., 200 Acres granted to wife, Mary Willson Lawrence.
. 1803 Post Office Letters, downtown Toronto: This issue contains a list published by the postmaster of uncalled-for letters lying in the post-office at York:
. Richard Lawrence. (Original Toronto Post Office was one street over from Richard's 179 King Street house. However by
. 1803, Richard was now up on Yonge & Steeles.)
Ref: Vol XIL, The Oracle, Saturday Jan. 15, 1803, No. 28, Total No 610.
Note5: McGill had the 1000 Acres at Lot 25, Con 2, adjoining Richard Lawrence's Land Grant.

Ontario Lands Registry, Metro Toronto Book 683, p131 [Note: Version 2]
Lot 18, South side King St., Town of York
[Original Version 2 adds:] Abstract Town of York, S.S. King
St., Pt of Town Lot 18: Abstract of all Instruments affect 38.5 feet on South side of King St East x 120 feet deep coming at N.E.L. Town Lot 18 on South of King St & running West & being par t of sd. Town Lot 18.
. 1802 May 17, Patent, Crown, to Ricd Lawrence, All Contg. 1/5 Acre
. 1805 Feb 13, Patent, Crown, to Beasley et all, all condj 15 acre,
. 1805 Feb 19, Mem. Grant, Richd Beasley, survg. Trustee of Tos Barry & Wm. Allan, to Rev. Geo O'Kill Stuart of York, £321.17.16., All et all. Being 1 C in front X 2c deep. To hold unto sd. Grantee his heirs & assigne forever. Sg. by Grantee.

Abstract North York Book 16, p3
Lot 25, Con 1 Yonge Street East, York Twp.
. 1808 Sep 15, Patent, Crown, to Richard Lawrence, All 190 acres.
. 1806 Jan 20, Registered 20 Mar 1806, Bargain&Sale, Richard Lawrence et ux, to The B Gough, East Half.
. 1819 Aug 20, B&S, Richard Lawrence, to John S Baldwin, £250, West Half Acres.

Abstract, Metro Toronto, North York Book 128, p21
Lot 24, Con 2 West, York Twp.,
. 1798 Dec 31, Patent, Crown, to Wm. Jarvis, All 200 Acres
. 1805 Dec 31, B&S, Thos. B Gough, to Richard Lawrence, All 200 A
. 1809 May 1, B&S, Richard Lawrence, to Jacob Fisher Jr, £100, All 200 A.
Note6: Adjacent, Lot 23, Con 3, Sawmill, water badly supplied, Peter Keiffer, 1851.

Abstract Markham Book 91, p22
Lot 27, Con 1 East Side Yonge St. , Markham Twp.,
. 1803 July 15, Crown, to John Leslie, All 190A
. 1804 Aug 31, Bargain&Sale, Thos. McMichen etux, to Richard Lawrence, £100, All 190 Acres.
.1805 Jun 29, B&S, Richard Lawrence et ux, to John Arnold, £100, All 100A.
[Beside brothers-in-law, Wm. L Willson, Lot 26; Samuel Osborn Lot 27, & Stillwell Willson The Elder, Lot 30.]

Abstract York Region, Vaughan Book 185, p4
Lot 1, Con 3, Vaughan
. 1802 May 17, Patent, Crown, to Mary Lawrence, All 200 A
. 1821 Feb 21, B&S, Richard Lawrence et ux, to John Guthrie, £100, All.
[Near Fairbanks Lumber/ Railway tracks & Steeles W, 2020].-

Ontario Land Registry Abstract, Vaughan Book 190, p4 & 32,
Lots 1 & 2, Con 4, Vaughan Twp., York Co., [Keele Street], p4 & p32.
. 1805 Feb 1, Patent, Crown, to Richard Lawrence, All 400 Acres each [Lots1-2 @ 200A.]
. 1805 Feb 1, B&S, Richard Lawrence et al, to Thomas McMicking. All 190 A, 200 Acres for Lot 1. & Lot 2 190A.
Note7: Adjacent Lot 4, Con 3, was a sawmill, Michel Fisher, 1851.
Lawrence's most productive grant Lot 25 1ES was also part of the Willson sawmill land. Thus the summary suggest Lawrence searched for land that could yield water & tree resources, as opposed to strictly farm land. - P J Ahlberg 2016.

. 1805 to 1815 at least - Richard Lawrence received Tavern Licenses for the Twp. of York.
. March 1801, The Special Sessions of Peace, held the "The Court are of opinion that 6 persons are a sufficient number for Keeping Tavern in the Town of York, for the year ensuing.
. 1805 Dec 28, The undermentioned persons prayed to be admitted as fit persons for receiving Licenses to Keep Taverns in the Home District for the Year next ensuing: Richard Lawrence.
. 1806 Mar 20 - sells East ½ Lot 25, Con 1 ESYonge St.
. 1807 - Richard Lawrence owned Lot 18D, south side of King, west of Frederick St. Brother-in-law Sam. Osborn was on the next lot 19D.
Ref: Toronto Sundries, Home District. Quarter Sessions.

Special Sessions of the Peace, York, Tavern License for year ensuing,
. 1815 Dec 30, Town of York: Richard Lawrence, York Twp., Granted.

Note8: Various sources state the Joseph Abraham ran the first inn called the Green Bush at Steeles & Yonge at the North east corner. In an area noted for tall trees, it must have been a large balsam tree indeed that stood in front of the Inn. The NE corner belong to his brother-in-law Wm. L. Willson. Further research may show the exact location of Lawrence's tavern.

Regulations included: No excess drinking, no profanities or gambling; sufficient sheds, stables and/or barns were required for the patron's horses, carriages & wagons. The innkeeper should also have at least 4 good beds in addition to those for his family. All of these regulations were controls to limit taverns & increase inns.
Ref: Margaret McBurney & Mary Byers, Tavern in the Town: Early Inns & Taverns of Ontario. - P J Ahlberg). - . -

PART TWO: Tracking Richard Lawrence Though Documents:

. 1759 Aug. 20, Monday born, Middletown, Upper Freehold Twp., Monmouth Co., Prov. of New Jersey. Father William Lawrence's carpenter's shop along with his brothers.
. 1776 to 1783. American Revolution, New Jersey 1st Volunteers, Christies' Quarter Master Department. He was a volunteer in the army most of the time.
. 1776 Richard is on Staten Island, NY.
Note9: UCLPetition Richard gave a reference for Sarah Lakerman Willson who was on Staten Island since 1776, the beginning of the War & therefore, Richard Lawrence too was on Staten Island.

. 1785 New Brunswick. Purchased land at Musquash Island on the St. John's River from Capt. Richard Lippincott also of NJ.
. 1786 New Brunswick. By this time he is married to Mary Willson. [Further research: Records of the Anglican minister traveling though the Miramichi?]
. 1787 Jul 25, Wants land at Prince William, Queensborough, NB. allotted primarily to the Queen's American Rangers (& to future brother-in-law Arthur Nicholson, (ELIZABETH LAWRENCE).
. 1789 Jul 27, Land Grant: A little beyond the Sandy Point, opposite, Between Island by Johnston Basto, West Branch of Miramichi River, Northumberland County, New Brunswick.
. 1789 Sep 25 - Granted land at Willson's Point, Miramichi, New Brunswick. Richard builds log gaol at nearby, Newcastle, NB.

Northumberland Co., New Brunswick, Deed Registry Books, Grantor:
. 1793 June 15th - Richard Lawrence & Mary Lawrence to William Babcock, Vol 2, Pg. 97, Deed £20 for 200 Acres, 22 cleared with Stockable Dwelling House, 3 Commons Pasture. Signed, John Willson, Esq., JP of Inferior Court of Common Pleas.

. 1793 July - MAY FLEET *NJ *NY *NB *UC. Evacuation from NY to New Brunswick in 1783. Again the 'May Fleet' leaves around NB by ship & up the St. Lawrence River to Montreal, where John Willson called on Commissary Issac W Clarke for aid. The 60 people including Richd. Lawrence were in the party lead by John Willson, Esq.
. 1793 Aug 8 - Arrived at Quebec with 60 people. A dozen people remain here. Arrival by 3 bateaux at Kingston on 28 Aug., 1793. Received army rations & medical care. Detained over 30 days waiting for another boat. 1793 Oct. 10, group arrives at Niagara again sick & starved. 25 Oct, Governor J G Simcoe authorizes ship to pick up John Willson & associates.

. 1792 Sept. Fort George, Niagara. Lieut. Gov. Simcoe orders government ship to bring them Lawrence, Willson & all from Niagara to Town of York.
. 1793 Nov 2, Arrival at the Town of York, Toronto. Extracted from the documents on the hardships of this voyage to Upper Canada can be found also at 1) Roots.com under JOHN WILLSON.1 & 2.) more extensively in Richard Lawrence of NJ, NB & Ontario. Book may be found at North York Public Library, Toronto. & Richmond Hill Library - PJ Ahlberg, 2009.

. 1794 April 7 to 30 June, Paid for carpentry, Public Buildings at York. Paid £15 11 s. 3 pennies, on 10 July, 1794.
. 1795 June 1. Petitions for Lot 25, Con. 1 ES Yonge Street, York Twp., ON WHICH HE HAS ALREADY LOCATED. (Yonge & Steeles Ave., Toronto). Tavern here or and/or Vaughan. Sold 20.
. 1819 Aug. As a lieutenant he was granted 1000 Acres & an additional 400 Acres from his wife, Mary Willson.
* 1796 May 28, Cousin John Brown Lawrence presented Richard's land grant to his friend Gov. Simcoe:
. 1796 July 30, already built on it: 18 Duke Street, TOWN OF YORK. Today 179 King St. East, Toronto Downtown.
. 1796 8 Oct - Granted & lots in Vaughan, (just across the road from his Lot 25, Con 1 Yonge.) Steeles & Yonge Streets, tavern here or and/or at Vaughan.

. 1797 Minutes of the Town of York: Richd. Lawrence: 2 males & 4 females.Total six.
i.e. Ricd. & wife Mary & John, Mary, Marg., Eliz. & Mary Anne Lawrence.
Note10: Town of York had only 52 males & 34 females living on Yonge St., Toronto.

. Two Surveys of Settlers actually living on Yonge Street:
. 1797 Aug 3, York, Lot No. 25 East, 5 Acres cleared, Richard Lawrence is on the premises.

. 1797 Jun 27 - Oath saying he knew Sarah Lakerman, wife of John Wilson, Jur & that her father died within the British lines in the year 1776. Signed, Richd. Lawrence.

. 1798 June. Lot 25 East, Richard Lawrence, i.e. He is living on the lot) Four acres cleared. Small log house. Surveyed by David W Smith, Esq., Surveyor Genera.l { Is Wm. L. Willson, his brother-in-law on the adjacent lot, actually living with his sister Mrs. Mary Lawrence? - PJA.]

. 1802 Jan 12, Tuesday Richard Lawrence (7th) sworn to Petty Jury of 12 men. John Evenor the accused. When the miller was absent, John Evenor was seen taking a sheep away from the barn yard. Discharged because no Prosecutor was present.

. 1805 Mar 2. Richard Lawrence of Yonge St. who had received a license to keep a Tavern for House, at his dwelling house & who had removed from thence to another Public house; applied for leave to keep a Tavern under the same license in the house to which he had removed. The court do not find themselves authorized to comply with this request as they deem the License to be attached to the house recognize has been taken & not to any other.
Note11: 1804 Feb 1. Richard sells Lot 3, Con 4, Vaughan Twp. property. Coincidence?

. 1807 Jul 24 - Justice Robt. Thorpe's address, Summary: Whereas a goodly number of Independent Electors convented for discussing the sufferings whose situation was resplendent by many not his friends to be very deplorable of his losses which at first he yielding to their entreaties to represent them in Parliament in UC or England. A multitude of signatures, inc. Joseph Shepard, Richd. Lippincott, Alex. Montgomery, Baron Fred. DeHoen, Peter Muscleman, John Van Zantee, John Willson, [most likely junior] William L Willson, Stillwell Willson, James Finch. Richard Lawrence, William Johnson, George Taylor Denison, J Hale, Walter Moody, Peter Whitney, Garret Van Zantee, Sam D Cozens, Peter Winter.
Ref: Report on dn Archives, 1892.

. Ely started early. John Powell & Geo. Ridout soon overhauled me - fed at Buttanans? 18 miles - at Lawrence 17 miles, went on to Cantfields 11: a little after dark.
. 1809 Sep 29th - John Arnold & Ely Playter drew a load of ashes from [Richard] Lawrence's the AM. 47 bushels.
Ref: Ely Players Diary.

. 1815 Dec 30. Richard Lawrence received a Tavern License for Township of York. £12, Issuer James Kerr.

. 1818 Dec 26, Quarterly Session of Peace, Charlottesville, London District
$2 Costs of Court The said Sum for Wages to the said Alvin.
Ordered that as the License is Left in the behest? of the Magistrates all persons being desirous of keeping publick houses are required to attend on the last Saturday of this month precisely at 10 in the forenoon at which time the Bonds will be ready for signature, as an Act of the Legislature has passed to that effect.
The Court took into consideration the Tavern Bills & agreed as follows.:
Richd. Lawrence £3.10s & Wm. Lawrence £3.

Extracts from HIS CHILDREN'S LAND PETITION RICHARD LAWRENCE:
. 1818 Apr 14, Richard Lawrence is now in Woodhouse*, Ontario, daughter Margaret Lawrence.
. 1818 August 6, Mary Ann is with her parents at Long Pointe, Ontario.
. 1819 October 13, Richard is in Woodhouse now, wrote daughter Elizabeth Osborn-Tarbox-Lawrence.
. 1819 Aug 20 - Richard Lawrence sells West ½ Lot 25, Con 1 ESY for £350.
. 1820 April 11 & 20th, He is now in Charlotteville, London District, (Norfolk County).
. 1821 Feb 21, Sold Vaughan Twp. property of his wife, Mary Willson.
Note12: Woodhouse is now called Naticoke.

. 1828 - Photo of large wooden mill: Lot 1, Con. 2 East. Markham Township. Bayview Ave & Steeles Ave. Fish Mill, NE corner Steeles & Bayview in 1961. This grist & saw mill was built in 1830 by Benjamin Fish, next to the distillery that he owned (built 1828). Though the original mill was destroyed in a fire, Fish built a new one on the same site. Demolished in 1965, when the intersection of Bayview & Steeles was widened.
. The Town of Charlotteville:* When the war of 1812 broke out the court-house was used for barrack purposes, ... was christened" Fort Norfolk." The court house, jail, the fort & the tavern of Job Loder all stood on the elevation above the flat. A hotel was built under the hill & kept by a man named Hatch. In 1833, during the cholera scare*, a hospital was built at this place. It stood on the bank & was a barn-like structure & was used but little, if at all, for the purpose for which it was built. The old Town of Charlotteville reached the zenith of its glory during the war. In 1815 the District Courts were removed to Vittoria & the Town of Charlotteville relapsed into Turkey Point once more. No traces of its old-time importance remain, save a few surface irregularities indicating the spot occupied by the fort. The dreary waste at Turkey Point was, for 13 years, the judicial metropolis for all this vast region of country.
Ref: Pioneer sketches of Long Point Settlement. Published 1908.
Note13: Was this the cause of Richard Lawrence's disappearance? Note14: *Charlotteville is now called Delhi.

. 1831 May 3 - DECEASED of London District, wrote son, Richd. Lawrence, and also deceased was an Innkeeper, deceased per Jane Lawrence.
. 1846 Smith's Canadian Gazetter, Province of Canada West:
Harwich, Kent Co, Western District, soil extremely fertile, 1898 inhabitants. Timber - white oak, black walnut, maple, beech, hickory, basswood etc.

A more complete history with copies of ALL documents & photos may be found at North York Public Library, Toronto under Richard Lawrence, John Willson & John Brown Lawrence of New Jersey, NB & Ontario. By P J Ahlberg, May 2009. - - -

Birth:
Monday. Upper Freehold Twp.

Richard married Mary WILLSON, DUE est 1786 in New Brunswick, Canada. Mary (daughter of John WILLSON, .1, Sur. and Rebeka Thixton THICKSON(E)) was born est 1770 in Piscataway Twp., Middlesex Co., New Jersey; died est 21 Feb 1821 ± in Charlotteville, Norfolk Co., Ontario. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

. Richard Lawrence's New Brunswick Land Petitions indicate he was single March 1786 at Queensborough & married by August 1789 on the Miramichi. They could have been married by her father, a Justice of the Peace for Miramichi, or perhaps by an Anglican Minister in transit on the Miramichi, who had baptized a Willson child [Jonathan Willson 1783 & John Willson.III, born 1791?]
Further Research: However, also retained for further search: St. Andrews Church, Long Island. 1780 Oct 5, Married, Lawrence Mary & Lawrence, Richard. Vol. xxx, Page 56. This seems this would be too early for this Mary Willson.

. UC Land Petition 63, L Bundle 4 c 1808 p241
York, daughter of John Willson, [MARY WILLSON,] Richard Lawrence.
. To His Honor Peter Russell, Esq., president of the Government of Upper Canada etcetcetc. In Council:
The Petition of Richard Lawrence of the Township of York. Humbly shows That your Petitioner is a Loyalist & came from Nova Scotia about 3 years ago, [1794] that he is married to Mary, the daughter of John Willson, Esq. of Kings Mills on the Humber, who is also a Loyalist. That your Petitioner's wife having never received any Land, your Petitioner prays your Honor would be pleased to grant him 200 Acres in right of his said confer & is in duty bound your Petitioner will ever pray.
Richard Lawrence, York, 22 June, 1797.
Envelope: Ordered 200 Acres to wife of Petitioner as DUE, 1778 Dec 24. [Daughter of an Empire Loyalist.]

Ontario Land Registry Abstract Vaughan Book 185,
Lot 1, Con 3, Vaughan Book 185, p4
. 1802 May 17, Patent, Crown, to Mary Lawrence, All 200 A
. 1821 Feb 21, B&S, Richard Lawrence et ux, to John Guthrie, £100, All.

Note1: As of 2018 this land is now 1900 Steeles Ave. West, Fairbanks Lumber Co., Concord, Vaughan Twp., York Co., Ontario. As of 2018 this land is now 1900 Steeles Ave. West, Fairbanks Lumber Co., Concord, Vaughan Twp., York Co., Ontario. -PJA

Note2: Husband Richd. Lawrence had other land at Lot 1 Con 4, also the adjacent, Lot 25 across on Yonge St in York Township. In others words, all located on Steeles Avenue: First East at Yonge & Steeles to Dufferin St.]

. 1801 Children's schoolhouse, Condition of Yonge Street:
Lot No. 25 west & east complied with, Lot 25 East Side of Yonge Street; nothing done to the street & a schoolhouse erected in the centre of the street. This is the end of the Township of York.
Ref: Report to Surveyor-General D W Smith on the condition of Yonge Street in 1801, by John Stegmann, formerly a Hessian officer.
. On page 427 of Scadding's memoirs, he tells us that Elisha Pease taught in this early schoolhouse.
XReference: E. Pease was a witness of the WILL of John Willson, Jur. in 1818 & also John Johnston, 1852.
Note3: The schoolhouse was built in the road allowance in front of the Lawrence's property so the children could find it & not getting lost in the woods. Just a few lots away, Jacob Cummer tells us a black bear was digging up his garden. - PJ Ahlberg.

. DAUGHTER & WIFE of a TAVERN KEEPER:
Mary Willson Lawrence & her children, had much experience at Taverkeeping. Husband Richard Lawrence held a UC licensed tavern located on Yonge Street north. She & her friend, as noted below, Mary Thompson visited Miss Elizabeth Russel when Thompson was employed by the sister of THE most prominent & powerful man in Upper Canada. From extracted stories from Ely Playter's Journal we may see what life was like a woman tavenkeeper in early Upper Canada:
. 1806 Jan 11 - Thinking it was a tavern, Ely Playter & a companion mistakenly stopped & stayed over night at Mr. Miller's house. Implicit in the mistake at Millers & throughout his journal, is a parallel understanding that household life intersected with public life in taverns.

. 1802 May 2 & Sept 29 - Mary Thomson*, Playter's journal's Miss T - also lived at his house. She was the daughter of a substantial farm family from Scarborough Township. Her father, Archibald, was a master stonemason & a Justice of the peace from 1806. Nothing about her presentation in the journal suggests less than respectable young womanhood. It is difficult to account for her presence in the tavern rather than on her family's farm. [Scaboro Museum, 2016]. Certainly not a servant in the house, she socialized within the same circles as the tavern-keeper & came & went as she pleased.
Playter mentioned her almost exclusively in the parlour usually in the context of polite sociability, but once he noted, I seated myself by the Parlour fire & finished my letters to Mr & Mrs Rogers, it was one o'clock in the morning before I retired to bed. Miss T sat at her work till I had finished writing. This brief reference & others, imply Mary Thompson may have worked in the textile trade from Playter's tavern & continued so working after marrying John Scarlett of the Humber. Tavern-keepers placed tea tables in their parlours. Nor did anything about the emphatically public nature of their homes work to exclude the women of tavern-keeping households from local networks of female friendship & association:
The Tavernkeepers' daughters, Player saw Miss Beman, the Miss Jarvises, & Miss Robinson on their way home as they had been visiting & he gave my Sister's Compliments to her as they had requested in their letter" In their taverns these women crafted a female space for sociability, into which they also welcomed men.
Ref: Women, Men, & Taverns in Tavern-Keeper Ely Playter's Journal, by Julia Roberts, Guelph.
Note4: Mary Thomson's husband-to-be, John Scarlett was granted in 1817 Apr 2, Lot 19, south side of Richmond, that is across the street from husband Richard Lawrence. Ref: Town of York Abstracts, p263.

. 1837 - Toronto & Home District:
. 1799 - Population 224; 1800 - Population 1127. 1818 - Population 8,459.

Date & place of burial of Mary Willson Lawrence is unknown. Last known whereabouts of Mary Lawrence was noted in her daughter Mary Ann Lawrence's UC Marriage Bond of 10 August 1819, where permission to marry was obtained at Long Point in southern Ontario. Rebecca Lawrence says her father died when she was very young & she was reared by an older sister, implying perhaps that Mary Willson was dead between 1821 & 1831 when her husband died & thus making Rebecca about 16 years of age - not so 'very young'.

Richard Lawrence was an inn keeper in the Long Pointe to Harwich, Ontario, until his death about another 1 years later, about 1831.

A separate Willson Family Tree may be found at Ontario Ancestor; & also Rootsweb.com: John Willson of New Jersey & the Kings' Mill, Ontario. - - -

Birth:
Alt DOB: Est 1765 -1769.

Died:
Alt Loc: Harwich, Kent Co., Ontario

Notes:

. "I have an old English Bible with the record of birth, marriage, etc. of Richard (5), son of above William (4) & all but 2 of his children & all I need to make a legal connection is the WILL of William (4). Anyone wishing information that I have on the Lawrence family of New Jersey is welcome to it.
Walter A. Hamilton, Grand Rapids, Michigan, Reprinted in Boston Transcripts. [who has the Bible now?]

. 1748 May 5 - Margaret Tilton (J4-17); married William Lawrence, son of Richard Lawrence. Tilton Family in America.
. 1748 May 5 - Margaret Tilton married, at the house of Daniel Tilton, William, son of Richard & Alice Lawrence; both of Middletown, born Dec. 13, 1719.

Shrewsbury Monthly Meetings:
. 1761 May 6, The Meeting is informed that William Lawrence, of Middletown has of late purchased a negro. John Burdin & Jacob Condis is appointed to x at with him & inform our next Meeting hear whether he is disposed to make satisfaction.
. 1761 Mar 2 - William Lawrence declines making satisfaction for buying a negro by letting her free. Therefore this Meeting of the Yearly Meeting desires to acquaint him the rite of appeal.

. 1748 Mar 2, William Lawrence: Three days before his marriage to Margaret Tilton he made application to the Men's Monthly Meeting, Shrewsbury, for a certificate of removal to Philadelphia. Ref: p. 417, Vol. 3.

. Colts Neck has been noted for its horse breeding farms since the 1700's. ... In the springtime we are conscious of our heritage. The fields are green with young corn, potatoes & garden goodness. The orchards begin the ripeness of the apples. Hundreds of foals feed on the rich forage & from upland to lowland we know that snug in these fine houses, rich with the history of this land, we are at home.

. William Lawrence & his Jacob Lawrence (1757-1823) were for many years coffin makers of Middletown Twp., Monmouth.
Ref: Vol. 17, #13, Page 68 Jul 1942.

1757 Aug 6, Will of Mary Cox, widow of Thomas, of Upper Freehold, Monmouth co, 86 years of age, Son this. Grandchildren, Eliz & Rebecca Cox. Names T Van Horn; Jos & Mary Lawrence: Elizabeth. Hutchinson. Legacy to Baptist ch; Wit: Sm. Liming & William Lawrence.

Shrewsbury Monthly Meeting
1744 Oct 1, Mary Tilton; second intentions, Burlington Meeting, ,
married, Oct. 10, 1744, Job Ridgway, Jr., of Little Egg Harbor, son of Thomas.
Witnesses: Daniel, Margaret, Sarah & Phebe Tilton, [i.e. her sisters.]

. 1748 Mar 5 - William Lawrence of Middletown & Margaret Tilton of the same place, married at an appointed Meeting at Daniel Tilton's House.

1748. William Lawrence, John Lawrence of U.F. (Upper Freehold) large pair of saddle bags delivered by John McConnel at John Formans funeral.
Ref: Names of persons mentioned in Samuel Holmes His Book of Accounts.

. 1758, William Lawrence, Accessed for land in Upper Freehold.

ACCOUNT BOOK OF WILLIAM LAWRENCE, 1756-1817: 1 Vol. (190 p.)
Lawrence of Middletown, N. J. was a blacksmith & a carpenter & also sold meats. Accounts by customer, mostly payments for services rendered. Also mentions selling coffins (one for a "negro" Daniel Polhemus, Nov. 1791).
The Account Book has a note "Independence declared July 4 1776. Peace 1783" towards end of volume.
Ref: Reprinted in Monmouth County Coffin Accounts of William & Jacob Lawrence 1756-1808, Genealogical Magazine of NJ, Vol 24 3.1949 Jul, p6-70, by Chas C Garner

. Bequest form the WILL of William Lawrence, of Middletown, Monmouth Co. NJ. Grandson, William, son of Richard Lawrence, deceased, 36 acres at Barnegat, being part of Thomas Cooper's lot.
Ref: Account book 1756-1817 Manuscript Collection 296., Monmouth County Historical Association.
Note1: See attached story on Wm Lawrence, Quaker Carpenter.

. 1776 Aug 29 -British Troops at Middletown:
"Very near the present settlement of Middletown there lived … On the morning of August 29th the British light dragoons from Jamaica [NY City]
scoured Newtown, "& while it was yet early," wrote Riker, in his "Annals of Newtown," "guided by one George Rapelye, a loyalist, came along the poor bowery & halted at Jacobus Lent's (late Isaac Rapelye's) to get some bread. Brandishing their naked swords they declared that they were in pursuit of that dx d rebel, Dr. Riker.

. The doctor had spent the night in visiting different sections of the town & tearing down Howe's proclamations, that none might be mislead & induced at this critical juncture to remain & accept British protection instead of hastening to the support of the American arms. The females at Mr. Lent's were terrified at the ferocious appearance of the light horse &, observing the greediness with which they broke & ate the dry bread, Blanche, a colored woman, innocently inquired of her mistress whether they would not eat them. They dashed off toward Hell Gate, but the doctor had escaped in a boat to Barn Island & thus eluded the demons in human form." August 31st General Robertson, in command of a British force, was marching from Brooklyn, via Bedford & Cripplebush, to Hell Gate to oppose General Lee, who was reported to be landing there with an army.

. When he arrived at Hallett's Cove, finding no enemy, he took up his quarters at William Lawrence's place (known later as Whitfield's & Halsey's) & encamped his army of 10,000 in tents on the hill & in Hallett's lot. At that time nearly the whole English army was within a few miles of there. Says Riker:
"The East River now only separated these hostile legions of Britain & the army of Washington. Indeed, no sooner had General Robertson made an encampment at Hell Gate & his cannon arrived than a battery was planted on a point of l& at Hallett's Cove, which opened on Sunday September 1st at Horn's Hook, on New York island & being returned in a spirited manner an incessant firing was kept up on both sides the whole day, during which the enemy threw above a hundred shells, killing one of our men & wounding several. Some of the American shot fell on the land of William Lawrence, but it is not known what damage the British sustained. This cannonading continued for several days, by which the enemy were so emboldened that on Tuesday they crossed in considerable numbers to Blackwell's Island, but the shot from our batteries proving too warm for them they soon recrossed the river."

In the meantime the British troops made frequent incursions upon the contiguous portions of the island & a number of residents of Whig proclivities were made prisoners & subjected to detention & indignity. General Robertson's army, a little after the middle of September, vacated Hell Gate, which was invested by the Hessians under General De Heister, who in company with General Clark was quartered in the house of William Lawrence. The Hessians remained three weeks & then left to join in the movement against New York.

Middletown Twp., Monmouth Co., New Jersey Tax List: William Lawrence
. 1778 March & November, December; 1779 Jan., March, Dec.
. 1781 August; 1784 May; 1785 June-July; 1786 June-July; 1787 July; 1789 July-August
. 1790 August; 1792 Jun, July, August, Freehold Twp., Monmouth Co., NJ, William Lawrence.

. 1779 Feb 24, Month. Whereas inquisitions have been found & final judgement entered, hereon, in favour of the State of NJ against there persons herein mentioned: Notice is hereby given that the real & personal estates belonging to Thos. Leonard, Hendrick Vanmater, James Boggs, William Lawrence, Richard Lippencott, Elisha Lawrence & John Lawrence, sons of John, late of Upper Freehold, will be sold at public venue, beginning on Monday 5 April next, at Wall's mills & continue from day to day until all are sold. No credit will be given. Signed, Samuel Forman, Joseph Lawrence, Commissioners, Feb 17. 1779.
Ref: New Jersey Gazette, Trenton, NJ.

Verify idenity: . 1780 2 mo. 7day Shrewsbury. From the Preparative Meeting, it appears John Lawrence's son of William has been fighting formerly & since has bore arms in a hostile way, has left his habitation gone where he can't readily be treated with for which offenses this Meeting hath hereby disowned him from being a member thereof. [p525 /film p226].

British Headquarters Papers (Carleton Papers or American Manuscripts):
Ensign William Lawrence, 1st NJV, (Skinner's Brigade)
. 1779, Return of Troops, New York, Page 10436 (58), Film 369, Item 31699.

. TAX LISTS for years: 1778 Mar - Nov; 1778 Dec - Nov; 1779 Mar - Jan; 1779 Oct-Jan Lists;
1785; 1881 Aug; 1784 May; 1785 Jun - July; 1785 July; 1786 Jun; 1789 Jul/Aug - Jul; 1787 Jul Lists;
& 1790 Aug - March; 1792 Ju/Aug - June; 1794 Jun Tax Lists: William Lawrence, Monouth County, Middletown Township.
Ref: NJ Early Census Index.

. 1785 Jul 5 - Letters remaining in the Post Office at Trenton: William Lawrence, Monmouth.
Ref: New Jersey Gazette, published 1785 Aug 1.

. 1787 Apr 9 - William Lawrence affirmed that Elizabeth M. Hartshorne & Hannah Herbert were daughters of Wm. Lawrence, his grandfather;
& that Hugh Hartshorne was the eldest son of Elizabeth Hartshorne &
the eldest son of Hannah Herbert, by her husband Obadiah Herbert.

. 1795 Feb 20 - WILL of William Lawrence of Middletown Twp., Monmouth Co., Know all men by these present that I being now indisposed in body but of a sound & disposing will & memory I do now in order to dispose of what worldly estate I am now possessed of make & ordain this to be my last will & Testament as follows to wit. In the first place I give & bequeath unto
Sons Richard & John, Daughter Elizabeth. £30 York money each;
Daughter, Alice £50 [£30?] & 3 silver spoons;
Son Elisha, feather bed I now lay on;
Grandson, William, (son of son Elisha), 5 acres being a survey now in the hands of Richard Herbert, with a piece of meadow ground joining the east side of said lott said meadow ground lying together to the Northward of the over going place;
Son Jacob, lott of salt meadow lying at Smocks Point containing about one acre & three quarters, 3 silver table spoons, 3 silver tea spoons & 1 silver tumbler, all home plantation, all cattle, farming utensils & remainder of estate, plantation whereon I now live on together with all the buildings improvements heridetaments (?) & appurtenances thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining.
Executors: Son Jacob Lawrence & Stephen Stoutenburgh.
Witnesses: Timothy Murphy, Daniel Covenhaven, Wm. Van Matter. Sworn at Freehold the 21st October 1795 before me, Jos. Scudder Surrogate.
. Proved 21 Oct. 1795.
. Son & Executor, Jacob Lawrence Affirmed, the 21st Oct, 1795 before me Jos' Scudder, Surrogate.
. 1795 Mar 3 - Inventory £155.10.11 (also bond for £100 against Col. Asher & Obadiah & as yet unsettled; made by James Taylor, Wm. covert & T Murphy.
Ref: NJ Wills, Lib 33, p.505. NJ. & NJ Index of Wills & Inventories, Vol. II 7261-7268M.

. Historians generally concede that no state among the old 13 suffered during the Revolutionary War more than New Jersey & that no county in New Jersey suffered more than Monmouth. In addition to the outrages from the regular British army, our citizens were continually harassed by organized bands of refugees & by a set of outcasts known as "The Pine Woods robbers" who pretended to be Royalist yet if the opportunity arose, robbed Royalist as well as Americans. - - -

Page 2

. 1798 Sep 24 - Quaker Carpenter could Make Anything from Coffins to Mills:
William Lawrence was a man of all work. The Quaker carpenter from Middletown Twp. & his boys were available for just about any sort of job - from building a mill to repairing a tea table- during the last half of the 18th century. Lawrence's account book, preserved at the Monmouth County Historical Association library in Freehold, gives minute details of work done for Middletown & Shrewsbury residents from 1756 until his death in 1795. It reveals that prior to 1771 he produced a number of pieces of furniture, making him one of the county's earliest known cabinetmakers.
At the back of his account book Lawrence recorded that he was married May 5, 1748, to Margaret Tilton & their first child, Daniel, was born 2 years later. The marriage is recorded in the second book of Friend's Record's (Quaker) at Shrewsbury.

That he was originally considered a carpenter is confirmed by the will of Joseph Field of Middletown in 1749. One of the witnesses was 'William Lawrence carpenter. Lawrence's plantation was located near Colts Neck Village. He willed this, his cattle & farm equipment to a son, Jacob, in 1795.

Lawrence's accounts show sales of meat, grain & livestock to his customers in addition to charges for a wide variety of other services. He tanned hides, provided harvest help, constructed wells, built & repaired wagons, chaises & sleighs & was apparently a competent wheelwright. There are countless entries for coffins of bilsted (sweet gum), cherry, walnut & black walnut - many of them for children. Infant mortality was high in the 18th century.

The names of 10 assistants or apprentices are listed in charges for labor in the account book. The last 5 named, between 1764 & 1784, are Daniel, William, Elisha, Jacob & John, which are the given names of 5 of 6 sons listed in a Lawrence family genealogy.

Furniture made included six bedsteads, six tables of various types, two cases of draws (bureaus), a dressing table, a chest, several chairs, two cradles, a tea table & a desk. There also are numerous charges for furniture repairs. No examples of this furniture are known to have survived. Lawrence seems to have been strictly a country cabinetmaker who used only woods available locally. Maple, mahogany & other imported woods popular with city cabinetmakers are not mentioned. Lawrence's services were in considerable demand. In 1760, his crew put in 20 days work for Joseph Taylor in Upper Freehold Township - some 25 miles from home - probably building or finishing the interior of a house.

One account is of particular interest. Lawrence & his boys did extensive work in 1764-65 for Michael Kearney, suggesting that they may have been the builders or interior finishers of the mansion house at Morrisdon Farm in Colts Neck, a fine colonial home that still is standing & was the subject of an Antiques column last year. Kearney apparently acquired the property in the 1760s & the first reference to Morrisdon Farm turned up in a 1767 horse breeding ad run by Kearney. Lawrence billed him for 36 days of labor over a 3 month period.

. 1763, Lawrence charged Widow Mary Holmes, on July ye 18 to 1 day work to myself & boys underpinning the house.' The bill was 12 shillings. Two rather unusual services were performed for Obadiah Holmes, Sr. in 1768. He was billed for putting wings to the windmill & for making an instrument for John Holmes to press leather. In 1765 & 1766, Lawrence listed charges of £30 for work done on the Meeting House by me & my boys. In 1771 there were more bills for work on the Meeting House, these charged to Edmond Williams, who was an active member of the Shrewsbury Friend's Meeting.

Lawrence seems to have had a well equipped shop for there are charges for turning bannisters & for making all sorts of parts for cider mills. In 1761 he was working on Van Dorn's mill & in 1766 built a mill for Cyrenius Van Mater, the latter probably a grist mill. In 1762 he made a number of moulds for brick-making for John Tilton. In 1768 there were charges for repairing looms. In 1782 he built some behives for Joseph Van Mater. In 1791 he made 2 hat blocks for Rulief Van Mater, presumably a hatter, & in 1793 he made a stove for him.

. After William Lawrence's death in 1795, his son Jacob continued the business at least until 1817. But in this period most entries in the account book he took over from his father are for making coffins & repairing wagons & sleighs. Stillwell's Historical & Genealogical Miscellany says that Lawrence's eldest son, Daniel, was killed in the Revolution (he was a member of the Monmouth Militia), & 3 other sons, John, Richard & William, supported the Tory cause & moved to Canada. Perhaps the son William Lawrence was the Shrewsbury Tory of that name whose lands were seized by the American government in 1781. Lawrence's will left £30 each to his sons John & Richard & the bulk of his estate to his son Jacob. But there was no mention of his son William.
Ref: Asbury Park Press, NJ. - - -

Birth:
(Perth Amboy, NJ).

Died:
WILL Proved 21 Oct 1795.

William married Margaret TILTON on 5 Mar 1748 in Shrewsbury's Friends' House. Margaret (daughter of Daniel TILTON, Jr. and Elizabeth POWELL) was born on 13 Dec 1719 in Middletown, Monmouth Co., New Jersey; died on 5 Feb 1767 in Monmouth County, New Jersey; was buried in Shrewsburys Friend's Burying Ground. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

. 1748 Feb 28 - Three days before his marriage to Margaret Tilton, he made application to the Men's Monthly Friends Meeting, Shrewsbury, NJ, for a certificate of removal to Philadelphia, Penn.

"History of Tilton Family In America," page 182, makes the statement: "Margaret Tilton married William Lawrence, son of Richard Lawrence, May 5, 1748."

. 1748 March 5 - Quarker Marriage Record:
1748, 5day, 3 mo., William Lawrence, married to Margaret Tilton, both of Middletown, at an appointed meeting, attended at of Daniel Tilton's house.
Witnesses: Cattron Lawrence, William Lawrence, Amos Tilton, Margaret Lawrence, William Lawrence Jr., Daniel Tilton, George Williams, John Tilton, Mary Tilton, Anne Tilton, Joseph Field, Sarah Tilton, John Tilton.2, Abigail Tilton, Increase Tilton, Margaret Tilton [her own signature?]

. Historical & Genealogical Miscellany, Vol. V, pg. 142, further states:
"Margaret Tilton married, at the house of Daniel Tilton, May 5, 1748,
William, son of Richard, age 20 & Alice Lawrence; both of Middletown, born Dec. 1st.

. Margaret Tilton is mentioned in her father Daniel's WILL of 1749. FIRST SERIES VOL XXXIII.

. Mary Tilton; second intentions, Burlington Meeting, Oct. 1, 1744, married, Oct. 10, 1744, Job Ridgway, Jr., of Little Egg Harbor, son of Thomas.
Witnesses: Daniel, Margaret, Sarah & Phebe Tilton, [i.e. her sisters:].

. Tilton, Francis Theodore, THE HISTORY OF THE TILTON FAMILY IN AMERICA. New Jersey, 1939-40. page 181
History: Jones, William H, William Tilton: His English Origins & Some American Descendants, Heritage Books Inc, Maryland, (1997) pg. 79.

BURIAL:
. Margaret, the wife of William David, the son of David & Sarah & Esek Tilton, son of William & Margaret Tilton, are each buried in the Friends' Burying ground, at Shrewsbury, but with no other inscription than the initials: M.T., D.T & E.T.
Ref: Historical & Genealogical Miscellany, Vol. 5.

. Typical houses in Colts Neck:
Most of the houses of the Provincial period were shingled on the outside by cedar shingles & roofed with the same material. They were, generally, filled in with mud, sometimes worked up with chopped straw. The front doors were often ornamented with heavy & elaborate knockers of iron or brass. The doors themselves were large & in the Dutch buildings, usually divided horizontally into 2 at the middle. Windows were usually small. Floors were of very broad planks (sometimes two feet wide) & laid directly on heavy hand-hewn oak beams.

Chimneys became larger, some being 12 feet wide, needing logs so large & heavy that they had to be drawn within the kitchen by a horse. Ovens were no longer detached, but built in one of the side-walls of the kitchen chimney (such as that in the Frederick's home on Laird Road.) Vegetables were sometimes stored in outside root-cellars. Ice was preserved in deep pits, lined with logs & covered by a peaked roof. - - -

Birth:

Notes:

Married:
REF. History of Tilton Family In America, Pg 182, Box J4 Folder 17
41056; Alt DOM: 5 May, 1748 .

Notes:

A great deal of documents exist for John Willson, Esq., of which a selection are recorded here:

PART ONE:

John is the son of Sara Ladner & John Willson, Senior.

. 1760 Oct. 16 - WILL of John Landstaff of Piscataway, New Jersey:
To wife Mary & grandson John Langstaff, lands south of Ambrose Book.
Witnesses John Willson, Jr. & John Arnold. Langstaff & Arnold also went to Upper Canada, where they were amongst many New Jersey exiles located near each other on north Yonge Street, Toronto. - PJA

. Old United Empire Loyalists List
John Wilson of Piscataway, Middlesex Co., Memorial, Summary now of Miramachi Northumberland Co. 1786, joined troops at Woodbridge in 1777 in Forge Dept. Claim for 50 Acres & an house.
Ref: Commission for Loyalist Losses. # 12 /16 /187 -192, 63/115 &109/320. Jan. 1787.

. Settled 1784 May, New Brunswick, Canada: John Wilson, Esq,. 8 in Family, 2 acres improved & house.

. 1789 -11 Jul 1793 John Willson & Family landed in New Brunswick, Canada in 1783 & was granted land on the Miramachi River, in Northumberland County. Gov. Thomas Carlton made John a & Justice of the Peace. The salary for a magistrate in New Brunswick was £300 a year. His adventures there in this wild land would be enough for one lifetime, to speak nothing of what preceded the Miramichi or what would come after.
A more complete history may be found at North York Public Library, Toronto under Richard Lawrence, John Brown Lawrence & John Willson of New Jersey, NB & Ontario. P J Ahlberg, May 2009.

. 1791 Nov., Upper Canada Proclamation, creating new province; & by
. 1792 Aug 16 - In Quebec City John Willson visited Gov. J G Simcoe. (before Simcoe left for Niagara), who invited him to Upper Canada.

. 1793 Apr 26, John Willson, JP, paid for a tombstone at Willson's Point, Miramichi, NB made for his grandson, Abraham Willson.

WHY HE LEFT NEW BRUNSWICK:
Mr. Wilson further says, that when he left the Miramichi Settlements in the NB, he did it because the lands are not valuable for farmers & not worth clearing from the severity of the climate, that one of his sons-in-laws had already left the Settlement. Mr. Wilson says that a due care to provide for his family was the sole reason of this quitting Miramichi. He is his own person being better off there then he would possibly be elsewhere living almost without labour upon offices he possessed in that Country. A true statement, Signed, E B Littlehales, 16 July, 1794, Niagara.

1796 UPPER CANADA LAND PETITION & Revolutionary Muster:
To John Graves Simcoe, Lieut. John Willson, Jur. He suffered much by this Rebel party (at the point of the bayonet) before the British Army Landed on Staten island, the making several attempts to join them but always hindered till when the British Army was Advancing from the White Plains (NY) to the Jersey. I then joined them at Woodbridge [New Jersey ] & went with them to Brunswick (NJ).
I then entered into James Christies' employ [i.e. the Quartermaster] as a Foragemaster & ran Many risks of my Life, being twice taken Prisoner & confined but maid my escape & returned to my service again, till when the army returned from the Jerseys to Staten Island & embarked for the Head of Elk [River flowing towards Philadelphia] were my health would not admit of my going on board to retrieved with my family on said Island where I continued till the commencement of the peace.
I then with my family embarked with my family for Nova Scotia (since New Brunswick), where I drew 270 acres in Northumberland where I served in Sivil Commission & offices under Governor Carleton till July the 19th, 1793. There I set out with 60 men, women & children (Including my own family) for Niagara where we arrived on the 7th of next October.
... He wants Lots 4 & 5 on the River Humber & Lot 30 on west side of Yonge Street. March 25th, 1796, John Willson.

. Schedule of grants to pay full fees to the Home District - William Jarvis Copy Books:
Grant # 166 Wilson, John, Jun, 190 Acres, York, 12 Mar. 1794, U.E., Fee £3.5.2

. Willson I, John Sur., UE, UCLP W Bundle 2, 1796. Vol. 522, Petition #57, Yonge Street, Microfiche C2950.
On March 16, 1810 John purchased a Town of York, Lot 3 & 4 N side, Hospital Street for £100 & sold it at an apparent lost of £50, the next year to Jesse Ketchum. - . -

PART TWO, NB to Toronto:

X-Reference: Richard Lawrence & John Willson Petition for RATIONS AT NIAGARA my W25- W31 IV
The Simcoe Papers Toronto Public Reference Library & John McGill papers,
[TPL also, at the Baldwin Room: comprises 3 boxes of 'True' hand written duplicates of correspondences & accounts for Upper Canada. Documents are In precarious state. Photocopies of the original documents may be seen in my book on R Lawrence & J Willson.]

, MAY FLEET's ARRIVAL AT YORK, Summary
John Willson & 46 people assembled & left New Brunswick together in 1793 to come to Ontario. Many of these people had known each other back in the United States, during & previously to the Revolutionary War. The May Fleet journey began in 1783 at Staten Island, New York with British evacuation to New Brunswick & Nova Scotia were the new life was crowed & difficult. New land was being offered in Upper Canada. Here is part of that journey from the Kingston to the Town of York, today's Toronto, on north shore of Lake Ontario.

On 11 July, 1793 the group took a ship around NB & then up the St. Lawrence River to Montreal. On the 17th of August, at Montreal, Commandant Isaac W Clarke assigned, the group an six extra Canadians to guide the three bateaux past the Rapids of Lachine. The open bateau were thirty feet long & propelled with both a moveable sail, ropes & barge poles.

When they arrived at the Port of Kingston they were sick & needed treatment from the kind doctors at Fort William Henry. They promised to repay the Fort for the 1543 rations they had been assigned,. Even though the Commandant risked having to pay for the rations from his own military salary, Capt. Porter wrote, "humanity induced me to act as I have done."

The Assembly had arrived at Kingston 28th day of August. For a month they waited for the next bateaux "but did not gain Niagara until 7th October, 1793." The late Chief Justice, the Honorable William Osgood, said he would speak to Simcoe for the further 1529 Rations the starving & sick families again required upon their arrival at Fort George at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Upper Canada. (Also referred in the documents as Newark or Head of the Lake (Ontario). By return poste, Governor Simcoe ordered the Fort commandant to convey the Loyalist by the Government boat, to north bank of Lake Ontario to the Town of York.

THE SIXTY PEOPLE of this new 'MAY FLEET arrival at York' included an additional fourteen members of whom it is likely the Kendricks joined up at Kingston. The names of those twelve families who made the journey were:
John Willson, Richard Lawrence, Patrick Cobgon, Joseph Kendrick, Peter Whitney (signed), John Kendrick, Titus Fitz, Duke William Kendrick, Samuel Sinclair, Samuel Osborn, Hiram Kendrick, Peter Long.

John Willson had signed, for the provisions for the group & it was he that was required to sign a receipt on 2 Nov., 1793 for £100 repayment in three years. Some of the assembly had already moved on from the area & thus leaving no chance of their earning money for to repay Willson.

THE KINGS MILL ON THE HUMBER ( The Old Mill, Etobicoke, Ontario):
, Gov. Simcoe gave a License to John Willson & to John Brown Lawrence to build & operate the Kings Mill on the Humber River. Both Willson & Lawrence were lawyers who had done legal business together on occasion back in Burlington, NJ. As well both were friends of Gov. Simcoe.

* 1797-99 ' KINGS MILL First Hand DESCRIPTION *
The Kingsmill was located between the two roads on the west side of the Humber at the spring above at the meadow. * The Mill seat was a log structure thirty feet by sixty feet long built on a small island in the Humber. A dam & mill race were built to allow salmon & other fish free passage up & down without being destroyed in the race or by the mill wheel. No one must allowed to catch these fish. It was also here that one one of Gov. Simcoe's personal horses was stolen while in pasture on John Lawrence's land & recovered sometime after his death.
A beautiful cedar swamp provided fencing for the house at the spring on the high banks. The Kingsmill was on the lower end of the famous Toronto Carrying Place Trail. On the high sandy bank opposite Kingsmill there stood for over thousand years a large village of Seneca longhouses.

The best British regulations to preserve the large runs of salmon & trout, also encouraged the cutting of trees along the river habitant. Old photos show graphically the hazards of spring break-up as ice boulders overflow onto the location of the mill race & pond & on the island adjacent the Kingsmill.

LUMBER from the HUMBER: One fourth of all lumber cut was due as rent payment to the Government. Thick pine slabs from the Kings sawmill were used in the Navy Hall at Niagara-on-Lake, Gov. Simcoe's home called Castle Frank; the First Parliament buildings, Kings St., Toronto & cedar was used to build the Howland's the Lambton Mill, a mile up stream at Dundas Street.
. Willson was paid from the public purse to deliver by oxen, the thick pine planks to Castle Frank on Bloor Street. John Willson had cut lumber in May 1798 to build on his front lot in the Town of York.

. On 9th Nov., 1797 Lt. John McGill registered in his papers, an application from John Willson to purchase the Kings Mill which Willson found in need of improvements when he first took up the lease. A total of £299 income had been generated from 1794 - 1796 the saw mill operations. Willson might have had an opportunity to purchase the Kingsmill, if Lieut. Gov. Simcoe remained in Upper Canada when the Mill lease opened up again in 1799.

, . On 16 July 1796 from the government stores Gov. Simcoe ordered to be issued to John Lawrence, Esq., a pair of French Bur Mill Stones & grist mill irons as needed for the befit of the settlers in that district. The first seven barrel of corn ears to be shelled & measured with government's four barrel arrived at the grist mill on 20th October, 1796.
Lease from the Kingsmill ran from 1 Jan 1796 to end of 1798.
[ - Is this the same French bur mill stone sitting outside of current 'Old Mill Inn' on the Humber River?

Lease from the Kingsmill ran from 1 Jan 1796 to end of 1798. Unfortunately his partner John Lawrence died about the 10 July, 1798 & Willson friend & sponsor, Gov. Simcoe had returned to England due to ill health. Photos of ice jams at spring break up show clearly that the British engineers who chose this location in Upper Canada had no idea of the force of the Humber River in spring or the storm run off, especially with the increased deforestation would decimate the salmon fishery... Since Hurricane Hazel in 1957 the Humber Valley is considered a flood plain & is preserved as park land only. Contractors hired by the British to build the mill did not finish the job. The millstones cut too slowly & the mill race & pond & other repairs had to be done at the expense of John Willson. Willson was granted Lots 4 & 5 on the Humber River, but the Government mill on this property had to be leased out at the cost of half of the wood cut. The normal fee was usually one quarter of the wood cut. - P J Ahlberg 2009.

. 1799 Mar 23rd, John Willson advertised in the Oracle, York to sell Lots 4 & 5, the 50 acres & a most beautiful cedar swamp. Persons willing to purchase may know the conditions by applying to John Wilson, Esquire, on Yonge Street. When the lease expired it was purchased by Peter Whitney.

. 1800 Apr 8, Tues. First Sitting of Home District Magistrates (York Co.): Wm. Jarvis, John Willson.
Ref: Toronto Sundries, Quarter Session Minutes. - . -

PART THREE, Life in Upper Canada:

. 1798 May 4, John Willson, Esq. Identification marks of Cattle, hoggs, sheep & swine: a swallow-fork in each ear.

UC LAND GRANTS: 1200 ACRES - Lots 4 & 5, on the Humber (adjoining the Kings Mill (Old Mill) June 1797;
Lots 5, 6, 7, 8, Con 3, Dorchester Twp., Elgin County, 800 Acres ( in the 'future Capital of Upper Canada', also near the land of Lt. Gen. John Graves Simcoe.)
. Lot 30, Con 1 West Yonge Street, Vaughan, Settlement Duty paid 1801, finally granted Feb. 1809;
. Town of York Lots 3 & 4 N side of Hospital St., Purchased £100, Ontario St. to Sherbourne St. [In 1827 Bank of Upper Canada Building, 252 Adelaide St. E. 1830 Toronto's First Post Office, 260 Adelaide St. E.]

. From 1798 to about 1820 John lived at Lot 30, Con 1 Yonge Street. He ran a saw mill on his property & he was also a Justice of Peace. John's wife, Rebecca Thixton, died in June 1804 & was buried on her son property, at Lot 26, Yonge Street & Steeles.
(X-Ref: Wm. L. Willson for description of first burial site.)

UPPER CANADA SUNDRIES:
Willson J., 1814 February 8, York, page 7839 & Willson, John, 1814 March 12, York, Pg. 8019-21.
Ref: Archives of Canada, microfiche C 9822-25.

* 1798 Dec 19th, York Officers of the York Militia: John Willson, Esq., Justice of the Peace, formerly Capt. of Militia, in Nova Scotia, to be a Captain in the York Militia.

. UCLP15, Y Batch 5, p417. -1801 Jul 16 - East Side Yonge St, Lot 30, No clearing, Longs in the Street not burnt.

. June 28th, 1802, a wolf's scalp certified by J. Wilson, Esq., taken in part of assessment £1. "Page n515.

* 1800 Apr 8, Tuesday. The First Sitting in Upper Canada of the Home District Magistrates:
Wm. Jarvis, JOHN WILLSON, John Small, James Macauly, Wm. Willcocks, Wm. Allan, John McGill, Alex Wood, Wm. Chewett, James Ruggles, Signed, Justices of our said Lord the King, assigned to keep the Peace of our said Lord, the King in the Home District & also to hear & determine divers felonies, trespasses & other incidences in the said District. Wm. Jarvis, Esq., chose chairman. Commission opened & read.
Ref: Home District Quarter Session of the Peace Minutes. [i.e. Toronto, York County, Ontario.]
Note2: William Willocks, 1735 Co. Cork, Ireland-1813 Jan 7 Toronto, was the first cousin of Peter Russell. Willocks was the only magistrate not a barrister.

. 1805 Sept 18. John married Catherine B Kuhn who was the widow of a man also named John Willson, who had died 1788 in Duchess Co., New Jersey. They moved northward to Hope (Sharon, Ontario) which is very near Lake Simcoe. Catherine's s on David Willson had split off from the local Quaker group, to start his own group called the Children of Peace, who were having a renaissance of intellectual thought & music. John taught school at the Children of Peace & John & his 2nd wife Katherine were buried in the Sharon Burial Grounds. John remained Anglican & Bishop Strachan said officiated at his funeral. When eventual son Wm. Ladner Willson's land was sold, Rebecca & John were reburied together under cairn at the Holy Trinity Church in Thornhill, not far from their home on Yonge Street. The Sharon Temple / Children of Peace celebrated their 200 anniversary in 2008 with candlelight concerts & is open as a museum.

* * Recapitulation of Fort York, (Toronto), WAR of 1812,
As a captain of the 1st Regiment, York Militia on duty at the captured at Fort York, John Willson was arrested & jailed. John Willson was one of the 6 officers that signed the papers of Recapitulation to the American invaders. Geo. Playter's Diary tells us, like him, John Willson was armed with a musket & ready for action!

* 1813 Apr 25 - York. Capt. John Willson, 1st York Militia, Prisoner of War at surrender of the Garrison of Ft. York 24 Apr 1813, captured by the Army & Navy of the US at York.

* 1820 Jun 28 - UCLPetition 219, 1820 Re: War of 1812. Petition of John Willson, Markham, Ontario. American loyalist & was again on service as a Captain commanding a company of the 1st Regiment of York Militia, part of the time in York Garrison in 1812 & was on duty till the capture of York. (June 1813.) John Willson, York 28 Jun 1820.
Also attached was a certificate signed, Colonel W Allan, Commanding Militia & Garrison of York, 15 Jun, 1820.

Obituary notice: "Died At Hope Village, East Guillimbury, on the 8th inst., much & generally regretted, John Wilson, Esq., a native of the Province of New Jersey, aged 90 years & 14 days. Mr. Willson was a U.E. Loyalist & for a long period an active magistrate in the province of New Brunswick. He emigrated into Upper Canada 35 years ago [1793] & contented to enjoy good health until with a few days of his demise. At his request, expressed on his death bed, Doctor Strachan, Archdean on of York, went out to Gwillimbury & performed the last offices of the church over the remains. The venerable dignitary delivery a funeral oration in the chapel of the Children of Peace, in Hope, on the occasion, which was attended by a great concourse of friends, acquainted & relate vies the deceased.".
Ref: Colonial Advocate, Published 16 Jul 1829.
Note1: Hope, E. Gwillimbury is also now know as Sharon, Ontario.

* DEATH OF JOHN WILLSON: In your letter of the 24th ult., 1829, you asked about one John Willson who died at Hope (Sharon, ON) about. This old man was called Squire Willson. He was David Willson's stepfather, my father's stepmother's second husband (Katherine Kuhn). Her first husband, also called John Willson, died about 1788 in Duchess County, New York). She soon after married Squire Willson who was a man highly respected. He came, I believe for NS in Gov. Simcoe's time & was by the Governor much thought of. He had a large family by a former wife, but none by this one. There are a number of great grandchildren, living in the Twps. of York & Scarborough. Service of the Canada Company at the time of the settling of Goderich & neighborhood. When these old people became helpless, David Willson took them home & kept them until they died. They died poor but honest. They once had property which his children spent for them.
Ref: Extracted from a letter of 5 December, 1869, Holland Landing Richard Titus Willson.

A still more complete family history & pictures may be found at North York Public Library, Toronto & at the Richmond Hill Library, under Richard Lawrence, U.E., John Willson & John Brown Lawrence of New Jersey, NB & Ontario. P J Ahlberg, U.E, May 2009. - - -

Birth:


Died:


Buried:
Sharon, ON.

John married Rebeka Thixton THICKSON(E) in 1760 in Piscataway Twp., Middlesex Co., New Jersey. Rebeka was born on 10 Jul 1743 in Woodbridge Twp., Middlesex Co., New Jersey; died on 6 Jun 1804 in Thornhill, Vaughan Twp., York Co., Ontario; was buried on 7 Jun 1804 in Thornhill, Vaughan Twp., York Co., Ontario. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Obituary: On Wednesday the 6th instant, at two in the morning, departed this life, much lamented, Rebecca Wilson, wife of John Wilson, Esq., of Yonge street, in the 63 year of her age. The following day her remains were followed by the a numerous train of mourners & friends to the place of interment, where a suitable oration was delivered by the Rev. Mr. Stuart on the solemn occasion.
Ref: THE ORACLE, Saturday, June 16, 1804, No. 8, Total # 684 (subscribers).

Rebecca & John Willson were living with their son Wm. Ladner, at the time of Rebecca's death.

BURIAL CAIRN
Willson, East face: John Willson Esq., aged 90 years & 11 days died July 8th 1829. Moved 1940 from East Gwillimbury In mind Rebecca Willson wife of John Willson Esq. departed June 6th 1804, aged 61 years. Moved in 1940 from Lot 26 Markham which was a Loyalist grant to her son W.L. Willson. [Wm. Ladner Willson.]

West face: John Willson, U.E.L. born in Middlesex Cy, New Jersey, 1739. died in York Cy, Upper Canada, 1829. Also his wife. Rebecca Thixton, born in New Jersey, 1743 died in Markham Tp., Yonge St 1804.

John Willson brought his family to St. John, N.B. in the "May Fleet" in 1783 & came to Upper Canada in 1793. He held the lease of the "Kings Mill on St John's Creek" on the site of the present ruin known as the Old Mill on the Humber, from 1793 till 1799, when he came to Yonge St. with his son & a nephew, John Arnold. He was among the officers of the 1st York Regiment held prisoners at Fort York in April, 1813.

RE-BURIALS: John had been buried in 1829 in Queensville Burial Grounds, with his second wife Katherine Kuhn. Rebecca had been buried in 1804 on her son's William's farm on 1 Jan.,1940, descendant Alice Willson of Toronto had them reburied together & had build also the stone cairn near south side fence, in Holy Trinity Cemetery. This incidentally would be adjacent to the property of her daughter, Mrs. Mary Willson Lawrence, which is the last lot in the Toronto.(This stone cairn is in Holy Trinity Cemetery, Richmond Hill on Yonge St. near Royal Orchard Blvd., behind Baptist church Holy Trinity Church which since has been moved when Yonge Street was widened from two lanes.)
Ref: North York Ref: Library, Newspaper Collection, R E. Wm. C H Dowson & Alice Willson. - PJ Ahlberg, 2010.

. 1940 Oct 10, North York: Erects Memorial Cairn of Boulders
M W C H Dick Doson of 68? Parkview Ave, Willow has must completed the erection of a memorial cairn of field boulders in Thornhill Anglican Cemetery. This is to the memory of Capt. John Willson, Esq. & his wife Rebecca Thixton. ... His wife predeceased him in 1804. She was buried in what is now the lawn of Mr. Hugh Wilson (no relation) on the north side of Steeles Ave. near Bayview.
Her gravestone the oldest in the area is believed to have been carved & erected by her husband himself. It is a piece of unhewn river slate such as is found in the Humber river area. The lettering, crudely carved reads, "In Mind, Rebecca Willson, wife of John Willson, Esq. who died June the 6, 1804. " The 2 old head stones are set together in the east side of the cairn facing the rising sun, wind & storms. The cairn boulders are not hammer dressed but remain as they came from the field.
The cairn contains, history of Thornhill Anglican Church; other records, coins & stamps inc. a letter, sealed in a glass container.
The work was done for Miss Alice Willson of Toronto, who is a retired teacher of languages; & a direct descendent of those to whom the memorial is erected. She is also a descendent of Mr. Jacob Cummer founder of Willowdale.
Ref: North York Enterprise Newspaper.

Note: New Jersey WILL mentions Arnold relations & Yonge St. neighbours Langstaff:
1797 Sept 15 Arnold, John, of Piscataway,Middlesex Co. Administrators James Arnold, David Thorp. Fellow bondsmen Henry Fourat & Joseph Thicksun all of said County.
Inventory £266 made by John Langstaff, senior & Junior.

For Research:
1. Rebecca Thicksun, born 18 May 1798, Bonhamtown, Middlesex, NJ d/o Lewis Wm. Thickstun & Mary Molly Compton, Is this a brother or some relation? & she married Chamberlain.
2. Rebecca Thickstun b 1751 Piscataway, Middlesex NJ, d 23 Sep 1819 Woodbridge, Middlexsex, NJ. Relationship?

3. NJ Calendar of Wills: 1711-12 Feb. 12. Blackford, Samuel, of Pitscatways, Witnesses: William Thick Stone, Wm. Lang, Ad. Hude. Proved April 29, 1712.

4. WILL of Azariah Dunham of NB, Middlesex Co., NJ,D 1789 12 23, to Daughter Jane, wife of Joseph Thixton of Piscataway, 30 Acres.

. St. James Episcopal Church, 2136 Woodbridge Ave. Edison, Piscataway , NJ. ' Founded 1666. Organized in 1704, this is the second church on the site. It was erected in 1837 in the new Greek Revival style, Although the cemetery does not appear well tended, the church has been kept us exceptionally well.' Edison as formerly called Raritan Township. Revolutionary War skirmishes took place in Bonhamtown, Piscataway on Woodbridge Avenue. St. James Episcopal Church building served as a barracks hospital for wounded British soldiers during the war. Piscatawaytown Burial Ground is also referred to as the White Church Cemetery. - -- -

Birth:
Alt Name: Thickson. Rebeka Ref: Her signature.

Died:
Lot 26, Con 1 Yonge East Side.

Buried:
- on property of son Wm. L Willson.

Notes:

Married:
St. James Church