| Notes |
- Northumberland Co., New Brunswick, Deed Registry Books:
. 1793 Jun 16, Sarah Willson & John Willson Junior to William Babock, carpenter, the peaceable & quiet position for £15, improvements of 200 Acres, the Lot on NW Miramichi, by Richard Lawrence. Ref: Vol 2, Pg. 46, Q.C.D., W.S. of N.W.N.
. 1795 Jul 29, John Willson, Jur. A town of York Lot & 400 Acres
Ref: The York Report of 1795 Aug 12, C2980, p174.
. UCLPetition 2, To John Graves, Since, Lieut. Gov., John Willson, Jur.' formerly from NJ, left with my father as early as the year 1776 & was employed in driving my father's wagon in British services till the army return from the Jerseys to Staten Island & was embarking for the Head of Elk [Maryland c. 1777.8.25] when my fathers being deprived of his health so he could not go on board. I then retired with him & the rest of his family on Sand Island* from where I often served as a guide & volunteer with the British Army in many Excursions into the Jersey. Where I ran many risks & received wounds & continued in that Line till the Commencement of Peace when I went with my father & many Families to New Brunswick, Where I served as Lieutenant in an Independent Company & continued till my father thinking Proper to move to this Province. Humbly prays for a Lot of land with the broken front lying on the Humber between Lots located to Levy Devins & Jacob Philips & Lot 18 West side of Yonge Street & what ever more your Excellency of his wisdom may think proper to bestow on one of such a description.
Signed: 25 March, 1796, John Willson, Jur.
N.B. Your petitioner begs leave to accompany this with a commission from is Excellency Governor Carleton, J.WJ.
Envelope: Rec. March 31, 1796, Recommended for Lot 18, Yonge St,
Entered in Land Book B, Page 69.
Ref: Willson, John, Jur, UCLP, W Bundle 2, Petition 2, C1796 -1797 & C 950, p623.
Note1: Sandy Hooke, NJ. is a peninsula lying between Monmouth, NJ & Staten Island, NY on the north side. The Sandy Hook Lighthouse was a Refugetown, where the Tories received protection front he Continental army. Here they were strongly guarded by British cannon & many raid were made upon Middletown & Shrewsbury, plundering, burning & carrying off prisoners.
Ref: History of Middletown, NJ.
. UCLPetition 30, W Bundle 3, C2950 p1154. [This 2nd petition giving more battle details: -PJA]
To Hon. Peter Russell, Esq. The Petition of John Wilson Jurn., formerly of East Jersey. That your petitioner joined the British army in the year 1776 & was employed in the Quartermaster's General Department until the embarkation from Staten Island to the Chespeak [1777] at which time your petitioner was prevented from going by the bad state of health of his father. He then served as a volunteer guide & in many hazardous enterprises in the Jerseys when your petitioner received several bad wounds for which he never had any pay or other emolument whatever but continued in this situation till the Commencement of the Peace when he went to Nova Scotia, New Brunswick where he had where he had the honor to have a commission as Lieutenant in an Independent Company, your petitioner during or since these services, never recd. Any title for lands & came to this Country with his father together with settlers to the number of 60 souls.
Signed, John Willson, Junior. [Undated, but:] Read in Council, 1797 Jun 26.
Envelope: Rec.21 Jun 1797, Read Jun 24 The Commission accompanying this Petition does not give any specific a quantity of land.It however, conveys respectability to the Holder & the Committee will no doubt attend to it as will as the Services he address proof of in the Petition of Land which they may judge proper to recommend the petitioner, Signed, Peter Russell.
Recommended for 600 Acres including former grants. Signed, Peter Russell.I
Given a let. 1 Jul 1797.
. 1796 - To John Small, Esq., C. E. Council. I do hereby certify that Mr. Richard Lawrence & Mr. John Wilson Jun. are Loyalist UE in the surest sense of the word, & are so issued In the Order of Council in their favour, & as such pay no fees except your official fee of 5/6d. You will therefore please to insert these U.E. in their Order of Survey.
Envelope: Mr. Richard Lawrence & Mr. John Wilson Junior. Certificate of the Honorable Ea. Shaw, as to Loyalty in favor of the above persons.
Ref: 1st Hier & Devisee, H1146, p228. Archives or Canada.
. Inhabitants to York Township & adjoining Townships, assembled 1797 Jul 17th, Inhabitants of the Humber:
John Willson, Esq.: Men 2, Women 1;
John Wilson, Junr., Men 3, Women 2.
. 1806 Nov 11th, by Order in Council Old United Empire Loyalists List, Wilson, John Junr, Home District, Son of John Senr. Associated Loyalist. Ref: Appendix, Appendix B. centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada by the UEL.
. 1806 Sep 9. To Francis Gore, Esq., Petition of John Wilson, Junior. Joined the British standard at the breaking out, at which he joined the British Standard & went to New Brunswick with the Loyalist in 1783, till he came to this Province in 1792. His name is missing from the U.E. list, pray enter his name is that distinguished list. John Wilson says the contents contained in this Petition are well known to the Hon John McGill & Lt. Coll. Shaw. York, 9th Sept., 1806, John Wilson.
1808 Minutes of Town of York: John Wilson, Jr., 3 males, 2 females. Survey of settlers actually living on Yonge St:
York June 1798, Lot 18 West: John Webster? Wilson. 1 & half acres cleared. Small hut building. Surveyed by David W Smith, Esq.
Note2: Æneas Shaw b. Scotland - d. 1815 York, NJV & Queen's Rangers during Revolution. In company of Sam Smith, Adj. John Gill.2, & 9 others, snowshoed from NB to Quebec 1792 to join John Gov. Simcoe in Toronto. Shaw served as a member of the Executive Council of UC. They knew the Willson from the Revolution. - PJA
. John Willson, Jr. The entrance to his property at Lot 18 Yonge Street was marked with a tall elm tree. (Near Yonge & Empress Streets, Willowdale. -PJA)
. Yonge Street Petition to Gov. Hunter, 1800 January, 16th, Yonge Street is impassable - Signed, John Jr., Senior & Stillwell Willson, & 12 Yonge Street residents. Ref: # Wb.55.
. Petition in support of a Mill near Niagara for Timothy Skinner of Stamford Twp., Lincoln Co. 57 signatures, including, John Willson, Senior. & Junior. Aug 19 1800 These proposals cannot be accepted. (no signature)
Ref: UCLP S- 5 /60, Archives of Ontario film # C2808.
Note4: The Willsons signed this petition just after their own lease on the King's Mill had expired. - PJA.
. Town of York Meetings: 1801 Mar 7. - At a town meeting held on Monday, the 2nd of March inst. at the house of Messrs. & A Playter [Bloor St.], the following persons were elected to serve as public officers for the present year: Overseers of Highways, John Wilson Jr., - for Yonge Street, from No. 25 to Big Creek & half the bridge, [i.e. Steeles to York Mills Ave.]
Ref: York, Upper Canada Minutes of Town Meetings & Lists of Inhabitants 1797-1823
. 1802 June 4, Militia Drill - Just after Daybreak we got up took out our Horses & fed them. Miss Miles got up & prepared us some Breakfast. We soon got joined with Mr. B. Arnold & rode on, as fast as we could through the bad roads. We were joined by J Wilson Junr., 3 of the Mr. Johnsons, Hollingshead, Hoover, Henrick & some others, we all stopped at Eversons Tavern & drank some Whiskey, where more company came up, making 14 horseman. Pass'd an number on foot all going into town. At the Mill road I left them & got down to farther about 8 o'clock.
Soon came up & we walked into Town, dressed ourselves ...Hurried to the alarm Post to join the Company. The men attended pretty generally & we marched into Town & joined the Battalion in the Park. The Men look'd very well, we went through no exercise, only formed the Line. The Captains gave in their returns to the Colonel & he dismiss'd us offering a beaver hatt to the best marksman with the soot the board guns & another to the best there. Riffles we fired at the target by turns in the Company. The Town, of course, was full of people & a great number drunk, were wrestling, jumping, boxing, & the like all the evening...The House was full of all kinds of people.
Ref: Ely Playter's Diary.
. John Jr. was the trustee for a small chapel at York Mills which the Children of Peace used to hold services.
. His father John Senior left him land in Dorchester Twp., Norfolk Co., Ontario.
Toronto Sundries, Home District (Toronto) Quarter Sessions Minutes
. 1804 Apr 11, Wednesday - The following persons were appointed to be Constables in the Home District: John Wilson Jun, Yonge Street, Township of York.
. 1806 Apr 8, Tues. Jacob Comer VS John & Eleanor McBride, his wife, Assault. Eleanor McBride guilty. Wit: John Comer, John Willson, Jur., Joseph Shepherd.
. Grand Jury, John Willson Junior, Foreman. John Thomson VS. Bapistie Renaurd, Petty Larceny, Guilty.
* 1809 October 15 Sunday, Sunday, Banns, Henry Coon & Catherine Everson, both of the Township of York.
Witnesses: John WILLSON & Adam Everson.
Note5: Without a signature etc. it is difficult to determine which John Willson, Senior or Junior, this could be. - PJA.
War of 1812 MUSTER:
. 1812 Feb 19 to 26 Apr 1813, Absent on sick leave, c 1203, pp 86, 88-96,102;
. 1812 Sep 8 - R, Wm. Marsh Jr, Jonathan Hale of Capt. Sam. Ridout's Co., 3 Regt. York Militia, Serj. Jacob Snyder, John Lamoreaux, Private Thos. Johnson, Priv. Stillwell Willson, D W Kendrick;
. 1812 Sept 13, Willson, John Capt., 3rd York Militia. Appointed officer for the day 14-9 1812, Garrison orders. C1203,
. 1812 Oct 16-24th, Pte. JW, 3rd YM, on the Muster Roll of Capt. Ridout's company. York Garrison 1812, film C1203. p 75.
. 1812 Sep 19 Leave of absence has been granted Until when: Sept 22, 6 o'clock pm. Other present: Danl. Cummer, Jacob Snyder, Geo Denison, Thomas Johnson, Isacc Willson (a cousin), John Montgomery, James Everson.
. 1812 Sep 8 to Sep 22. Stillwell Willson & Thos. Johnson, Remarks Discharged…
* Arms: no sword issued - only the Capt. & 1 other had any arms! - PJA)
. 1812 Nov 25 - Dec 24 - John Willson, Capt. Ridouts Co., 3YM, also Lt. D. W. Kendrick. Joseph Huff has a lead pencil missing through the whole time 17 Sep. Prisoner & committed to Gaol the same day.
. 1812 Sept 13, York Garrison Orders, Permission granted to his Co. to return to their homes until further orders, p.10
. 1812 Oct 16 59 Oct 19 - Rolls recorded as they marched into York Garrison 16 Oct 1812." - Thos. Johnson, John Willson, Peter Lawrence who transferred to Rifle Company 21st Oct - Isaac Willson, Danl. Cummer.
Lieut. Duke Wm Kendrick, killed Jan 1, 1813.
. 1812 Oct 10, Officer for the day, Capt. JW, 3YM, C1203, p22
. 1812 Oct 24, Capt. York Garrison. Ref: c 1203, p29;
. 1812 Nov 9, Capt. Garrison to be officer for day. Regimental O. His Company to remove to & occupy Capt. Burn's rooms in the Garrison. Garrison Orders, York. Ref: C1203, p50.
. 1812 Nov 9, Capt. York Garrison Orders, Regimental officer. His Company to remove to & occupy Capt. Burn's Rooms in the Garrison, Ref: c1203, p 50;
. 1812 Nov 11 & 14th, Capt. JW of 3YM, To be captain. for the days 12 & 15 Nov., c1203, pp 52.56;
. 1812 Dec 25 - 1813 Jan 8, John Willson, 15 Days 7s 6p., also Thos. Johnson, Jhn. Montgomery, Jo. Johnson, Danl. Cummer. Contractors in Kings Works, struck off pay & provisions. Ridouts 3rd YM,
Note6: Written signed by John Willson, Sr., 1YM.
Ref: Upper Canada Nominal Rolls & Paylists, 510384, p825.
. 1812 Metal granted to him for action at Detroit, Pte. John Willson, York Militia.
Ref: British Military & Naval Records, Microfiche C1202, P.8, from Index only C11870, p.1480.
. 1813 Feb 19, Capt. Ridout's Co. 3YM. Employed on the King's Works at York Garrison 1812-1813. C1203, pp 64, 109; Kings Work, John Willson in contract since 1 Jan & getting out timber. KW Joseph Johnson, Thos. Johnson; Jno Willson went home sick Feb. 28th.
. 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).
John Willson went home sick 20 Feb. 1813.
. 1813 Feb 25 - Mar 2, John Willson, 13 days, pd. £1 7s 6d. On furlough from 2nd to 15th [March]. Ridouts 3YM;
. 1813 Feb 28 - Sick in Barracks, John Willson; Jno Willson went home sick Feb 28th.
. 1813 Mar 1st to 4th, Sick at home, John Willson, Jno. Montgomery;
. 1813 Mar 5th to 15th, Sick at home: John Willson, J Montgomery
. 1813 Mar 16, Sick in Barracks, Jno Willson, Jno Montgomery
* 1813 Apr 10, Sick in Hosp., Jno. Willson. Apr 11th. Sick in Barracks, Jno Willson.
. 1813 Mar 25 - Apr 24, John Willson, Days 31 pd. 15s 6p. & Isaac Willson promoted to Corporal 29 March. Ridouts 3rd YM.
. 1813 Mar 27, Kings Work, Jno Willson, in contract since 1 Jan & getting timber.
* 1813 Apr 25th & 26th, In Kings Work. Jno Willson.
* 1813 Apr 25 Prisoner of American Army & Navy, York Garrison, along with his father, Captain John Willson, & John Arnold. Released on parole.
. 1813 Oct 25 - Nov 24, John Willson, Days 26, pd. 13s. Capt. Stephen Heward's 3YM.
. 1813 April 14, York, Militia G. O. The proceeding. of a Court of Inquiry, held at York on the 10th instant, to examine & report on a complaint of Lieut. Colonel Chewitt, against Lieutenant John Wilson, of the 3rd regiment of York Militia, having been laid before his Honour the Major-General commanding, he has to observe that by the documents which have been under the examination of the court, the conduct of Lieutenant Wilson appears to have been highly reprehensible. However improper in itself, or wounding to his feelings, may have been what Lieut. Col. Chewitt said or wrote to his disadvantage, it would be no justification whatsoever of the very indecorous & insubordinate expressions contained in his letter to Lieut. Col. Chewitt, his commanding officer, dated 30th March last. When Lieutenant Wilson thought himself aggrieved, the mode to obtain redress was to lay his complaint in the regular way before a superior officer, from whom he might be assured he would receive it.
His Honour trusts that the observations which he has made will be considered by Lieutenant Wilson as a just reproof, & that it will have a propel influence on his future military conduct.
By order, Æneas Shaw, Adjt.-Gen'l Militia, Head Quarters.
Ref: Robertson's landmarks of TorontoV1 p609.
. 1815 Apr 15, Saturday. - Interesting York News: Lake Ontario is uncommonly sight. Immense flights of the wild pigeon from west to east on the 27th. The wild duck revisit our waters since peace was made.
"Never was a government more disappointed at not conquering a country than the American Government at not overrunning this province: Let us quote as a proof & as an object, that their commanders were instructed to name provisionally the place they successfully conquered. "Newark" [that is now, Niagara-on-the-Lake,] whilst in their possession was dubbed, "West Niagara, County of Ontario, State of Columbia." The editor had no very high opinion of the Americans in their effort to rename Newark.
. 1815 Jun 5, York. Return of Officers holding formerly Commissions residing within the limits of - 3rd Rg. York Militia, Lt. Col. Comd. Wm. Chewett, Maj. Wm. Allan, Capt. John Denison, Capt. Duncan Cameron who sent in his resignation, Capt. Playter, Capt. John Wilson,
J. WILSON, JUNR, late of the Nova Scotia Militia.
Ensign Snyder, late of the N.B. Militia.
. 1815 Dec 15 Militia & Defense Lists of Veterans of 1812-15 of Lower & Upper Canada to who medals have been granted & of those whose medals remain in the Adjutants General's Office: Privt. John Willson, York Corps. Action for which metal was granted, Detroit, Sent to Peter Shaver.
(Undated letter, c. 1813) Privt. John Willson of York to Peter Shaver for Detroit. Peter Shaver was member of Parliament for Dundas, Ontario & was contracted to provide heavy lumber & building materials for Fort Wellington on the St. Lawrence River at Prescott, Ontario.
. 1816 - Minutes of Town of York: John Wilson, Jr. 2 males over 16; 1 female over 16; 3 females under 16.
. 1816 May 8, Stillwell Willson, John Willson & Leonard Willcox, joint bond between Mr. All, Collector of the Port of York, for the Boat Lark.
. 1816 Joseph & Catherine [nee Fisher] donated 2.3/4 Acres of thier land high on th4 hill abobve York Mills for a church & churdyard. A fundrasing docuent for a church was signed by Joseph Shepard, Seneca Ketcheum & John Willson. St. John's Anglican Church was ready in fall 1816. John Willson served as a building trusteef rth the church.
. LAST WILL & TESTAMENT, dated 9 August, 1816:
Pay Funeral changes & debts. Wife Sarah the use of one third North Lot 18, First Con. Yonge. provided she remains my widow;
To oldest son John, the south half of Lot 18 & buildings & apparatuses.
Likewise to son Stillwell north half of Lot 18 with buildings;
To daughter Rebecca $100 paid equally by John & Stillwell.
To granddaughter Sarah Smith be paid $200 & 2 cows & 8 sheep when she arrives at 18 years & also one bed & bedding which in now in the house. The sons to equally maintain their mother.
All my Stock & moveables to his wife Sarah & then to Stillwill & his heirs. To Stillwell, 200 Acres in South Div. Dorchester, London District. Joseph Shepard, Twp. of York is sole, Executor of will.
Signed: Benjamin Slatar, John Willson, Jur, Alexander Montgomery, Elisha Pease, the 27th or 28 Dec. 1818.
Signed & sealed, York, 6 Feb, 1819, John Willson.
Ontario Land Registry North York Book 4, p2:
Lot 9, Con 1 EAST Yonge Street
. 1797 Mar 12 - Patent, Crown, to John Willson, Jr., All 210 Acres.
. 1797 Jul 11, - Release, Wm. Bond, to Samuel Heron,
to John Willson, Jr., All Acres, £200, All in al acres
. 1798 Sep 20, John Wilson et ux, to Samuel Heron, £12.10, All
Lot 18, Con 1 West Yonge Street
. 1805 Sep 19 - Patent, Crown, to John Willson Jr., All 190 Acres
. 1816 Aug 9 - Instrument 3355 WILL, Registered 1819 Mar 12, John Willson, Registered 12 Mar 1819.
. 1828 May 19, Bargain & Sale, Stillwell Willson et ux, to John Wedd, £130, N Half 105 Acres. [ i.e. Stillwell The Younger].
. 1829 Oct 15, B&S, John Willson at aux, to David Gibson, £400, 2 Half 106 Acres.
. 1830 Oct 8, R (?), Stillwell Willson Jr. to John Wedd, £130 N Half 105 A.
Lot 2, Con 1 East Yonge Street, North York Book 1, p10.
. 1798 Dec 17, Patent, Crown to Reuben Clark, 190 A.
. 1804 Nov 3, B&S, Reuben Clark, to John Willson, £xx, 190A.
. 1805 Oct 9, B&S, John Willson, to Wm. Allan, £xx, 190A.
. 1805 Sep 19 - Patent, Crown, to John Willson, Jr., All 210 Acres
. 1816 Aug 9 - Instrument 3355 WILL, John Willson, Registered 12 Mar 1819.
Note3b: Verification of which John Willson, ie. 2nd.? required. - PJA 2018. - - - [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]
- Page Two: WITNESSES TO HISTORY:
. 1816 Peter Lawrence & John Willson, at the Richmond Street Court House, Toronto, before chief Justices Powell & Campbell, Justice Boulton, W Allen. Early Scenes in Manitoba:
GRAND JURORS in the UPRISING at the SELKIRK RED RIVER SETTLEMENT.
Summary ! :
The Montreal North West Company of Fur Traders was a rival of the Hudson's Bay Company. Whilst the latter traded for the most part in the regions watered by the rivers flowing into Hudson's Bay, the former claimed for their operations the area drained by the streams running into Lake Superior. The North West Company of Montreal looked with no kindly eye on the settlement of Kildonan. An agricultural colony, in close proximity to their hunting grounds, seemed a dangerous innovation, tending to injure the local fur trade. Accordingly it was resolved to break up the infant colony. The Indians were told that they would assuredly be made "poor & miserable" by the new-comers if they were allowed to proceed with their improvements; because these would cause the buffalo to disappear. Lord Selkirk secured land for emigration purposed in land held by the Hudsons' Bay Company. In 1813 there were 100 settlers originating from the Scottish Clearances to the 'Selkirk Settlement' located at the confluence of the large Assiniboine & Red Rivers, with an outlet at York Factory on the Hudson's Bay.
In the spring of 1816, Mr. Semple, the governor of the Hudson's Bay Company, appeared in person at the Red River, having been apprized of the growing troubles. At the Battle of the Seven Oaks, on the 18th of June, a band of men, headed by Cuthbert, Grant, Lacerte, Fraser, Hoole, & Thomas McKay, half-breed employees of the North West Company, the Governor of the Hudsons Bay Company was violently assaulted; & in the melee he was killed, together with 5 officers & 16 of his people. Chief Peguis, with the permission of Cuthbert Grant, stayed to bury the dead, the rest fled [eventually to the Grand Rendezvous at Fort William.]
En route to his colony, Lord Selkirk had used his troops under his authority as a magistrate to seize Fort William & arrest Nor’Wester William McGillivray & his two companions, & to hold the Fort’s assets for eventual arbitration, as payment for his colony’s losses. On Selkirk's return to Upper Canada, he was drawn into a lengthy lawsuit brought against him by the North West Company.
Out of these events sprang the memorable trials that took place in the York Court House in 1818.
On The judges were Chief Justice Powell, Mr. Justice Campbell, Mr. Justice Boulton, & Associate Justice W. Allan, Esq. The counsel for the Crown were Mr. Attorney-General Robinson, Mr. Solicitor-General Boulton. The counsel for the prisoners were Samuel Sherwood, Living P. Sherwood, & W. W. Baldwin, Esq. The juries in the three trials were not quite identical. Those that served on one or other of them are as follows: George Bond, Joseph Harrison, Wm. Harrison, Joseph Shepperd, Peter Lawrence, Joshua Leach, John McDougall, jun., Win, Moore, Alexander Montgomery, Peter Whitney, Jonathan Hale, Michael Whitmore, Harbour Stimpson, John Wilson, John Hough, Richard Herring.
1816 Jun 19th, the Trial by Grand Jury take place a the (old) Court House on Richmond in the Town of York, (Toronto).
Trials 1 & 2: The prisoners brought down from Fort William, after the lapse of nearly two years were arraigned as follows: "Paul Brown & F, F. Boucher, for the murder of Robert Semple, Esq., on the 19th of June, 1816. Johan Siveright, Alexander McKenzie, Hugh McGillis, John McDonald, John McLaughlin & Simon Fraser, as accessories to the same crime. Cooper & Bennerman, for taking, on the 3rd of April, 1S15, with force & arms, eight pieces of cannon & one howitzer, the property of the Right Hon. Thomas Earl of Selkirk, from his dwelling house. In each case the verdict was "not guilty."
Trial 3. The Earl of Selkirk was not present at any of the trials. The Jury found by the Grand Jury for "conspiracy to ruin the trade of the NorthWest Company;" a verdict £500 damages for having been seized & false imprisonment by the said Earl of Selkirk in Fort William, Ontario.
Note7: Fort William & Henry, is located at the top of Lake Superior. Now renamed Thunder Bay, Ontario. No doubt the 19 (French) Canadian Metis were apprehended at the annual Grand Rendezvous of fur traders at Ft. William.
Note8: This was a very important trail with many famous people of time being involved: Lord Selkirk, members of the 'Family Compact' the two Boltons, Allan, Robinson & Baldwin; the 2 northern explorers MacKenzine & Fraser; & many of the Lawrence-Willson neighbors.
Note9: John Willson, senior or junior, is not stated. Because of the presence of Peter Lawrence, I believe it was more likely John Junior as the Junior, because they in 1816 they lived closer together. On the other hand, his father, John Willson Senior, had moved further north to the Children of Peace's settlement in Sharon, Ontario, however, John the Senior was captured in the previous year in the War of 1812-13 at the Battle of Fort York. - PJA 2011. - - - [8, 9]
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1761 - 1818 (57 years)