| Notes |
- . North York Historial Plaque
The property now comprising York cemetery was granted by the crown by letters Patent Dated May 9th, 1805 to Joseph Shepard, & was acquired by the Trustees of the Toronto General Burying Grounds in 1916. The first interment took place on July 27th 1948.
William Lyon MacKenzie is aid to have hidden on the property during his escape to the United Sates following the Rebellion of 1837.
the present office building was erected as a residence for Michael Shepard by John summer after Mr. Shepard was pardoned in 1843 for his part in the Rebellion. The building was completed in Early 1850.
Ontario Land Registration, Nory York Book 105, p 3,
Lot 17, Con 1 WSYonge
. 1805 M 5, Paten, Crown, to Joseph Shepard, All 210 A
. 1829 Sep 19 , M. Jos Shear, to Isaac Wilson, $680.16.8, All Acres
1837 Mar 24, B&S, Joseph Sheaprd Sr et ux, to Michael Sheppard, 680.16.8 All
1807 July 24, Electors of York to Judge Thorpe, (p 156) [Summary]
At a meeting of the independent Electors for York, Durham & Simcoe Counties, held at the Town York, Mr. Joseph Sheppard in the Chair, Respected Sir:
With unfeigned sorrow we lean that orders have been given to leave your name out the the Commission of Assize, which will deprive the instructive lessons flowing from your mouth while presiding on the seat of justice. … We have not received any information fro what cause or reason such orders have been issued. We earnestly entreat nothing may tempt you to leave us .
Signed, Alexander Montgomery, Secretary.
. 1807 Sep 4 - You will shortly hear from Messrs. Shepard & Montgomery, who are now deeply engaged in their harvest.
Ref: Report on Canadian Archives 1892.
XRef: John Vanzant for long report from Jos. Shepard & Alex Montgomery. Ref: Vol 1892 Report on Cdn Archives.
. 1807 Aug 1, York, Upper Canada. Lieut. Governor Gore to Lord Castlereach. [Summary] My Lord I have considered it my duty to omit the name of Justice Thorpe, Commission of Assiz, lately issued in the Province by the Executive Council have unanimously concurred with me in this measure. It should be dangerous to the peace of the Colony in regard to Mr Thrope, who appears to consider his character as a judge, but matter is to be chiefly ambitious character of a factious demagogue. …The address & answer are generally believed to be the production of Mr. Thorpe, no public meeting was ever held. Sheppard & Montgomery, the supposed chairman & Secretary, are ignorant Farmers, who can hardly write their names.
Ref: Report on Canadian Archives Series Q, Vol 306, p212, here published p153.
Note: Clearly both men were literate & well respected in their community.
. 1815 February 16, York. I hereby certify that Mr. Joseph Shepard of Yonge Street was a private in my Company of the Third Regt. of York Militia, & that he was wound in action on the 27th April, 1813 at this place. D. Cameron, Capt. 3rd Reg.
Doctor O'Leary is requested to cause the bearer J. Shepard to be examined, as to his wound, by an Officer of the Medical Staff & his Report or Certificate forwarded to us for Lieut. Drummond's information. C. Foster.
. 1815 Feb 16, York. I hereby certify that I have carefully examined Joseph Shepard, Private of the 3rd. Reg. of York Militia & find that he has received a severe extrusion of the left thigh at the explosion of the magazine at York on the 27th April, 1813, which has rendered him hitherto, in my opinion, incapable of earning his livelihood. Signed, E. O'Leary Physician to the Forces.
Envelope: Joseph Shepard, 3 York Militia, Temporary Pensioner 1815 Entered.
Ref: Upper Canada Sundries, film C4544, p. 902, Archives of Canada.
. [son] THOMAS SHEPARD was born on Yonge Street in 1804, & is the eldest son of Joseph Shepard, who came to Canada about the year 1774, & settled in York Co. at an early day. Joseph Shepard was an Indian trader, & travelled all through the country & in connection with the settlement of Toronto assisted to build the first shanty. Thomas, the subject of this sketch, remained at home until 1837, & then commenced the milling business, which he carried on until 1860. Since that time he has lived retired with his daughter, Mrs. Christopher Harrison. Mr. Shepard took an active part in the Rebellion of 1837, & was one of the historical fifteen who escaped from Kingston Penitentiary. In 1830 he married Miss Nancy Woolcut, by whom he had 7 children.
. Joseph Shepard, WILL of
I give & devise & bequeath unto my dear wife Catherine Shepard, the north half of Lot #16 & the south half of Lot 17 West of Yonge Street, Township of York for & during the term of her natural life save & except so much thereof as I have already devised to my son & from & immediately after her death, I give, devise & bequeath the north half of Lot 16 above-mentioned to my son Joseph Shepard & to his heirs & assigns forever save & except so much thereof as I have already devised to my son Thomas subject nevertheless to the payment therein to my granddaughter Elizabeth Bell of the sum of £16 10 shillings on her attaining the age of 21 years.
Then I give & bequeath unto my son Thomas Shepard my Mill together with about twelve acres of land abut one half of which is now used as a Mill Pond & is situate on the rear forty of Lot 16 & 17 on the West Side of Yonge Street in the Township of York, with a road to & from the same in the most suitable place leading from the second concession by the Mill to Yonge Street together with the privileges & appurtenances to the same.
I give, devise & bequeath the south half of Lot Number 17 aforesaid unto my son Michael Shepard & his heirs & assigns forever subject to the payment thereof of £62 10 shillings to my granddaughter Elizabeth Bell.
I give devise & bequeath unto my sons Joseph & Michael my horses, oxen & all implements of husbandry belonging to me to be equally divided between them share & share alike.
. 1837 May 10, Obituary for Joseph Shepard,
The Father of Reform in Upper Canada
Mr. Shepard was born in the colony of New Hampshire, New England, in 1767, nine years before the colonies unfurled the flag of independence & sought a name among the nations of the earth. His father & mother were natives of Ireland, & often have I heard him speak in the most indignant terms of the oppressors of the land of his forefathers, & of those wretched & (in many cases) infatuate beings called orange men, who are the mean instruments of that oppression.
Ref: The Constitution Newspaper, Town of York, Toronto, Ontario, newspaper of William Lyon Mackenzie. - - - [1, 2, 3]
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1767 - 1837 (69 years)