Jacob CUMMER, Sr.

Male 1767 - 1841  (74 years)


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  • Name Jacob CUMMER 
    Suffix Sr. 
    Born 2 Apr 1767  Reading, Berkshire, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • Cummer Ave. & Yonge St., Toronto
    Gender Male 
    Died 5 Dec 1841  Willowdale (Toronto), York Twp., Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • Cummer Ave. & Yonge St., Toronto, Aged 74 y.
    Buried Cummer Burial Grounds, Willowdale Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • Methodist Church, Willowdale
    Person ID I20  John Willson, Piscataway, NJ and Ontario Family Tree
    Last Modified 12 Jan 2019 

    Family ID F686  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Elizabeth FISHER, .1
              b. 31 Mar 1775, Somerset Co., Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location
              d. 31 Mar 1854, Willowdale (Toronto), York Twp., Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 79 years) 
    Married 25 Apr 1791  Rockingham Co., Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
     1. Elizabeth BETSY CUMMER, DUE
              b. 20 Nov 1793, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location
              d. 4 Apr 1881, Willowdale (Toronto), York Twp., Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 87 years)
     2. MARY Ann CUMMER, DUE
              b. 26 May 1792, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location
              d. 23 Jun 1869, Willowdale (Toronto), York Twp., Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 77 years)
     3. John Henry CUMMER, Esq.
              b. 28 Mar 1797, Newtonbrook, Willowdale (Toronto), Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location
              d. 11 Sep 1868, Toronto, York Co., Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 71 years)
     4. Peter CUMMER
              b. 10 Sep 1812, Newtonbrook, Willowdale (Toronto), Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location
              d. 10 Mar 1813, Newtonbrook, Willowdale (Toronto), Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 0 years)
     5. Jacob CUMMER, .3
              b. Willowdale (Toronto), York Twp., Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location
    Last Modified 9 Aug 2017 
    Family ID F15  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • Jacob is the son of Daniel Kumer.

      . Jacob was of medium height, weighing about 180 or 160 pounds. He had a fair complexion & chestnut hair, with rather short side whiskers.

      . UCLPetition 5, Y Bundle 5, C2980, p381. Yonge Street Impassible
      To His Excellency, Governor Peter Hunter,
      We the inhabitants of Yonge Street being subjected to such inconveniences by Reason of the Road to town being unpassable for most parts of the year, as to prevent our being able to carry our produce to market, do pray your Excellency to take our situation into your wide consideration and devise some means to enable us to make a good and passable Road by mobilizing an company independent of owning land on the Street, to do his proportion thereof.
      Signed, Yonge Street, 16th January, 1800
      Signed: {Baron] Fred V. Hoen Grt, Walter Moody, Thomas Hill, Jacob Cummer, John Evenson, Joseph Johnson, Nicholas, Johnson, Abraham Johnson, John Willson, SR, John Lyon, Anthony Hollingshead, Balsar Munshaw, Elisha Dexter, John Willson, Jur, Sil Willson [Stillwill.], James Ruggles, John McDougall, Ephriam H. Payeson.

      . Ontario Land Registry North York Abstract Book 11, p8
      Lot 17, 1EYS
      . 1801 Aug 10, Patent, Crown, to Jacob Comar, All 190 Acres.

      . Methodist minister Rev Mr Whiethead arrived in Godrich & preached his first sermon in the dwelling house of Jacob Commer.
      Ref: Clinton News Records, pub. 1912.11.21.
      .
      * The following, from the highly recommended: * The CUMMER MEMORANDA, North York Public Library, Toronto, (& as of 2010) www.archive.org/stream/cummer00cummuoft. Published 1901 by Wellington Willson Cummer, Esq., & Clyde Lottridge Cummer, is a worthy example of family history. - PJ Ahlberg.

      Yonge St., Willowdale, Upper Canada. Jacob Cummer selected 300 acres of land on which he commenced to make a home amidst the heavy pine forest. His good judgment was shown in choosing a tract one-half of whose acreage was pine, the rear part of the farm being hard-wood, with fine soil & gently rolling land. The location proved to be a wise one so he built a log house & commenced the labor of clearing off the timber. The earth soon began to yield a good living. Of course the wild animals of the forest gave him as well as all the other settlers much trouble. Bears destroyed the wheat, gathering the grain together with their paws, hugging it & eating off the heads. In this manner a large part of the crop would be destroyed. Then the wolves killed the sheep & hogs & the foxes preyed upon the chickens, lambs & small pigs. However, the early pioneers were diligent and watchful & waged war upon these pests by trapping & shooting. For this warfare they used the old-fashioned flint-locked army musket. Indeed there were at first only t3 of them within a radius of 4 miles.

      Jacob's early education was obtained at the common schools & before he attained his majority he became a flour miller, learning his trade at Lockport, NY. For a time he operated the mils at Reading Mills, near Willowdale.

      During the Rebellion of 1837, MacKenzie s printing press was hidden in an old dry well back of Joshua Cummer's farm.

      “When & why the "K" of the family name was changed to "C" are questions we are not able to settle definitely. An interesting tradition tells us that Jacob Cummer himself made the change because he found it easier to mark his grain bags with a "C" than with a "K." Evidently the change was made before his death. Mrs. Joshua Cummer says that it was during the boyhood of her husband. As Joshua was married in 1835, we are safe in saying that the change was made before that time."

      . 1834 August 30th, WILL OF JACOB CUMMER
      IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN. I, JACOB CUMMER of the Township of York in the Home District in the Province of Upper Canada, Husbandman, being weak in body, but of sound & perfect mind & memory considering the uncertainty of this mortal life, make & publish this last Will & Testament: 
      . I desire that my just debts & funeral charges be well & truly paid out of my movable property. 
      . Wife ELIZABETH CUMMER shall have comfortable support for life off of the 285 acres of land & in case she may choose to remain on the premises upon which I now reside she is to have possession of the west half of the house, the garden with all fruit trees in or around said garden, also all my household furniture & live stock, & she my wife shall, if any of my children which are now living with me should marry or become of lawful age go to such of my heirs as she may deem a proper portion of the movable property of my estate, & in case my wife ELIZABETH shall wish to leave the premises which I now reside to live with any other person or persons she shall have all the proceeds of the 285 acres of land above named; the sum of £30 currency yearly to be paid £10 currency by Samuel Cummer when they get lawful possession of their respective lots as specified in this m y last Will & Testament. 

      . Unto my son Daniel a tract of land & premises in the Township of York in the District & Province aforesaid, being composed of the north half Lot 23 in the 1st Concession on the east side of Yonge Street of the York Township forever. 

      . Unto my son JOHN that certain tract of land & premises in the to worship of York, Lot 22 on which my sawmill is now erected in the 2nd Concession of the York Twp. ESYonge, containing about 50 acres, together with said sawmill & appurtenances forever, subject to the following encumbrances, namely: 
      . THAT in one year next ensuing after my death the sum of £50 currency - to my daughter MARY, wife of John Willson, 3rd,
      - sum of £50 currency is to be paid unto my daughter Elizabeth, wife of Peter Lawrence in 2 year next ensuing after my death,
      - Unto my daughter Sally in 3 years next £50 unto my daughter Nancy in 4 years next. 
      . Unto my son Jacob Cummer, west halves Lots 4 & 5, Con 2, Vaughan, Twp., containing 200 acres. 
      . Unto my son DAVID, land & premises in the Township of York in front half of Lot 21 in the Second Concession of the said York Twp., ESYonge Street, containing 100 acres forever, reserving out of the same 2 rods along the north side for the accommodation of a road. 
      . Unto my son Joshua, south half of Lot 19, Con 1 ESY, & the north part of Lot 18 being contiguous to the part of Lot No. 19, commencing on Yonge Street at the center of the lane leading from Yonge St. through the centre of said land eastwardly for the distance of 40 chains, from thence a line to run in such direction eastwardly as will include in this parcel or tract of land the one-half of the premises of 285 acres of land, being the tract on which I now reside, reserving for the purpose of a sight for a Meeting House one-half an acre on northwest corner of that part of Lot 19, above mentioned containing by a measurement 8 rods from NE corner where a post has been planted in front. I give & bequeath for the sight of a Meeting House forever, & my desire & request is that the Episcopalian Methodist shall have the privilege of fulfilling their appointments & of hold conferences & any other general or quarterly meeting & that the trustees of the said Meeting house be empowered to let other Christian Denominations occupy the house as they may think proper.
      After said deduction being made I bequeath & devise unto him my son Joshua, possession & enjoyment of all & every part & parcel of the above mentioned tract or parcel of land with the appurtenances & to his heirs & assigns forever. 
      . Unto my youngest son Samuel, land & premises contiguous to Joshua's southern bound on which I now reside containing about 142 acres of land forever. 
      . Also unto my sons Joshua & Samuel each one horse,
      a set of harness,
      a plough & harrow,
      one cow,
      one bed, bedstead & bedding after my decease out of the goods & chattels.
      The Horse & cow to be of good quality.
      Executors shall equally divide or sell & equally divide the proceeds among all my children share & share alike in my household furniture, live stock or farm utensils if there be any such remainder which my wife Elizabeth should not deem fit to dispose of or keep for her own use. 

      . Executors obtain the proceeds of said lands above mentioned, that the proceeds be equally divided among all my surviving children, that is to say, my sons, Daniel, John, Jacob, David, Joshua & Samuel & my daughters Mary, Elizabeth, Catherine, Sarah & Nancy or their heirs,
      then my wife ELIZABETH is to possess all the residuary of my money so left, one-third of which is to be her own & the two-thirds to be equally divided among all my surviving children or their heirs & for their use an d benefit. 

      . Executors Robert Irwin of the York Twp., my son-in-law, & John Cummer my son of the same place, & my beloved wife, Elizabeth,

      . Signed, Sealed, published an declared by the said JACOB CUMMER as) for his last Will & Testament in the presence "JACOB CUMMER" names are hereunto written, &) who each of us subscribed our) names as witnesses at his request & in his presence at the James Bell, time & place as above written. John Willson, 4th, & James Wanhope. 

      I also declare & publish this as part of my last Will &Testament by me made & executed this 30th August, 1834.

      . Deeds of Conveyance from John Willson 3rd, of 4 Town Lots situate in the Town of Goderich in the London District, & also on which his dwelling house, outhouses & tannery is situate, & whereas the said John Willson 3rd, has the privilege of redeeming the above lands within 5 years from the 14th of August, 1834,
      & in case of his default or non payment then I give & devise all the above named parcels of land unto my daughter Mary, wife of the said John Willson, 3rd, for & during her natural life & after her decease my will is that the above named property is to be equally divided amongst their heirs after deducting from the said lands the amount due me from the said John Willson, 3rd. The money to raised out of the lots that the dwelling house does not occupy. 
      . IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have set my hand & seal this day & year above written. In the presence of us witnesses: John Willson, 4th,
      JACOB CUMMER, James Bell, James Wanhope.
      Probated 2 March 1842.
      Proved by Robin Irwin & John Cummer, Executors.

      Research & transcriptions by PJ Ahlberg. Thank you. - - - [1, 2]
    • Ontario land Registry, Vaughan Book 181, p 49. & 76
      . Lot 4, Con 2 West Yonge Street, Vaughan Twp., York Co.
      . 1797 May 30, Bargain&Sale, Ricd Lippincott, to Jacob Comer, All acres.
      . 1832 Jul 23, B&S jacob Cummer Sen. to Dan Cummer, 5 Shillings East End Acres.
      . 1832 Dec 7, B&S, JC Sen. to Robert Arnold, $225, Part Acres Lot 4.
      . 1842 Nov 8, Mortgage, Robt Arnold to Anthony Bowes, Lot 5.

      THE WILL OF JACOB CUMMER :
      The following is a copy of the Will and Codicil of JACOB CUMMER as appears in the Registry Office for the County of York, as Number 91406, the said Will and Codicil having been probated on the 2 of March, 1842, the said deceased at the time of his death having a fixed place of abode at the Township of York in the Home District. The said Will was proved by Robert Irwin and John Cummer, the Executors named therein.

      IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN. I, JACOB CUMMER of the Township of York in the Home District in the Province of Upper Canada, Husbandman, being weak in body, but of sound and perfect mind and memory considering the uncertainty of this mortal life, do this day the 30th day of August in the year of our Lord 1834. make and publish this last Will & Testament in manner and form following, that is to say :

      1. I desire that my just debts and funeral charges be well and truly paid out of my movable property.

      2. It is my bequest and desire that my wife ELIZABETH CUMMER shall have comfortable support for life off of the 285 acres of land above named, and in case she may choose to remain on the premises upon which I now reside she is to have possession of the west half of the house, the garden with all fruit trees in or around said garden, also all my household furniture and live stock, and she my wife shall, if any of my children which are now living with me should marry or become of lawful age go to such of my heirs as she may deem a proper portion of the movable property of my estate, and in case my wife ELIZABETH shall wish to leave the premises which I now reside to live with any other person or persons, she shall have all the proceeds of the 285 acres of land above named ; the sum of 30 pounds currency yearly to be paid ten pounds currency by Samuel Cummer when they get lawful possession of their respective lots as specified in this my last Will and Testament.

      3. I also give and devise unto my son Daniel all and singular that certain parcel or tract of land and premises in the Township of York in the District and Province aforesaid, being composed of the north half lot 23 in the First Concession on the east side of Yonge Street of the said Township of York to hold, occupy and enjoy same free of any encumbrance whatsoever and to his heirs and assigns forever.

      4. I also give and devise unto my son JOHN all and singular that certain parcel or tract of land and premises in the Township of York being composed of that part of Lot 22 on which my sawmill is now erected in the second Concession of the Township of York on the east side of Yonge Street, containing about 50 acres more or less, together with said sawmill and appurtenances thereto belonging, to have, hold, occupy and enjoy same and to his heirs and assigns forever, subject to the following encumbrances, namely:

      1. THAT in one year next ensuing after my death the sum of £50 currency is to be paid out of the said estate to my daughter MARY, wife of John Willson, 3rd, without any desalcation or omission and the like sum of £50 currency is to be paid unto my daughter Elizabeth, wife of Peter Lawrence in two year next ensuing after my death, and the like sum of £50 currency is to be paid unto my daughter Sally in three years next ensuing after my death, and the like sum of £50 currency is to be paid unto my daughter Nancy in four years next ensuing after my death or their heirs equally divided.

      5. I give and devise unto my son Jacob Cummer by Deed of Conveyance the west halves of Lots 4 & 5, in the 2nd Concession in the Township of Vaughan, District and Province aforesaid, containing 200 acres.

      6. I give and devise unto my son DAVID all that certain parcel or tract of land and premises in the Township of York in the Home District and Province aforesaid, being composed of the front half of Lot 21 in the Second Concession of the said Township of York, on the east side of Yonge Street, containing 100 acres more or less to occupy and enjoy with the appurtenances and to his heirs and assigns forever, reserving out of the same two rods in width all along the north side of said parcel or tract of land for the accommodation of a road.

      7. I give and devise unto my son Joshua all and singular that parcel of land composed of the south half of Lot 19 in the First Concession of the Township of York, east side of Yonge Street, and the north part of Lot 18 being contiguous to the part of Lot No. 19 last above mentioned Commencing on Yonge Street at the center of the lane leading from Yonge Street through the centre of said land eastwardly for the distance of 40 chains, from thence a line to run in such direction eastwardly as will include in this parcel or tract of land the one-half of the premises of 285 acres of land, being the tract on which I now reside, reserving for the purpose of a sight for a Meeting House one-half an acre of the aforesaid parcel of land, situate, and being the northwest corner of that part of Lot 19 above mentioned containing by a measurement eight rods from north west corner of the said one-half Lot where a post has been planted in front of said Lot southerly in direction of Yonge Street, thence westerly in the direction of the said lines of the Lot, 10 perches including the aforesaid content of one-half acre which parcel of land I give and bequeath for the sight of a Meeting House forever, and my desire and request is that the Episcopalian Methodist shall have the privilege of fulfilling their appointments and of hold conferences and any other general or quarterly meeting and that the trustees of the said Meeting house be empowered to let other Christian Denominations occupy the house as they may think proper. After said deduction being made I bequeath and devise unto him my son Joshua, possession and enjoyment of all and every part and parcel of the above mentioned tract or parcel of land with the appurtenances and to his heirs and assigns forever.

      I give and devise unto my youngest son Samuel, all and singular that certain parcel or tract of land and premises contiguous to my sons Joshua s southern bound and being the south half of premises or tract of land on which I now reside, Commencing at Joshua Cummer' s southwest corner and the centre of the lane on Yonge Street which runs with Joshua s southerly boundary line to the rear or eastward and of the said parcel or tract of lands containing about 142 acres of land more or less to hold, occupy and enjoy the same free of any encumbrance whatsoever with the appurtenances and to his heirs and assigns forever.

      I also give unto my sons Joshua and Samuel each one horse, a set of harness, a plough and harrow, one cow, one bed, bed stead and bedding after my decease out of the goods and chattels. The Horse and cow to be of good quality. And my will is that my executors hereinafter mentioned after my decease shall equally divide or otherwise proceed to sell and equally divide the proceeds among all my children share and share alike in my household furniture, live stock or farm utensils if there be any such remainder which my wife Elizabeth should not deem fit to dispose of or keep for her own use.

      Also I will and ordain that the executors of this my last Will and Testament or their executors for and toward the performance of my said Testament shall after my decease, bargain, sell, and alien in fee simple and of every part and parcel of lands with their appurtenances which I now possess which I have not hereby given and devised or that I have not granted, bargained or sold. I do hereby give to my executors or their executors full power and authority to grant, alien, bargain, sell and convey all such lands above mentioned to any person or persons and their heirs forever in fee simple by all and every such lawful means in the law as to my said executors or their council learned in the law shall deem fit or necessary.

      And I will that as soon as my Executors obtain the proceeds of said lands above mentioned, I desire that the proceeds be equally divided among all my surviving children, that is to say, my sons, Daniel, John, Jacob, David, Joshua and Samuel and my daughters Mary, Elizabeth, Catherine, Sarah and Nancy or their heirs, And it is also my will and desire that all moneys I may possess at the time of my death and all such notes, debts and book accounts as may be collected by my executors or executrix and after my funeral charges are paid as also my just debts paid and my said executors paid for their trouble, then my wife ELIZABETH is to possess all the residuary of my money so left, one-third of which is to be her own and the two-thirds to be equally divided among all my surviving children or their heirs and for their use and benefit.

      I also hereby empower my executors to make Deeds of Conveyance in fee simple for any lands by me sold and the Conveyance not executed and I do constitute and ordain Robert Irwin of the Township of York, my son-in-law, and John Cummer my son of the same place, and my beloved wife, Elizabeth, my executors of this my last Will and Testament and do such things as may be lawful and just in and about the premises as heretofore divided and directed. Signed, Sealed, published and declared by the said JACOB CUMMER as) for his last Will and Testament) in the presence of us whose) "JACOB CUMMER" names are hereunto written, and) who each of us subscribed our) names as witnesses at his re-) quest and in his presence at the) James Bell, time and place as above written.) John Willson, 4th and James Wanhope.

      I also declare and publish this as part of my last Will and Testament by me made and executed this 30th August, 1834. My Will is that whereas I hold Deeds of Conveyance from John Willson 3rd, of 4 Town Lots situate in the Town of Goderich in the London District, Province of Upper Canada, and also on which his dwelling house, outhouses and tannery is situate, and whereas the said John Willson 3rd, has the privilege of redeeming the above lands within five years from the 14th of August, 1834, and in case of his default or non payment then I give and devise all the above named parcels of land unto my daughter Mary, wife of the said JohnWillson, 3rd, for and during her natural life and after her decease my will is that the above named property is to be equally divided amongst their heirs after deducting from the said lands the amount due me from the said John Willson, 3rd. The money to raised out of the lots that the dwelling house does not occupy.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have set my hand and seal this day and year above written. In the presence of us witnesses : John Willson, 4th JACOB CUMMER, James Bell, James Wanhope. - - - [1, 2]

  • Sources 
    1. [S21] Wellington Willson Cummer, Esq., 1901.

    2. [S43] Ontario Land Registry Office.