Finding Ancestors in the Upper Canada Sundries

The Upper Canada Sundries are an invaluable genealogical resource but many researchers have never used them.

The Upper Canada Sundries, aka Civil Secretary's Correspondence  are found at LAC (Library and Archives Canada) and at the Ontario Archives. They consist of 32 volumes on 14 reels of microfilm and are an assorted collection of, as the name implies, correspondence. They have been digitized and are available online at the link above.

The main responsibility of the Civil or private Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor was management of correspondence. The Secretary ensured that it was acknowledged, referred onward or filed. Closely related were the duties of receiving and acknowledging Addresses, petitions, memorials and applications for office; transmitting Messages and public documents to the Legislature; and referring petitions to the appropriate public offices for opinion or advice prior to submission to the Executive Council.

Although the province of Upper Canada did not come into existence until 1791, supporting documents of earlier date have been incorporated into some series of its records.

The Sundries are filed chronologically. There is no name index but the wealth of genealogical information makes them worthwhile to browse through. They contain an assortment of such genealogical items as undated petitions, marriage certificates, land records, letters, petitions for land, testimonies during wartime, military records, petitions for mercy for those charged with treason, etc.

Following is one example which I found during a lengthy search of the Upper Canada Sundries. It concerns the daughter of my Loyalist Ancestor Isaac Van Valkenburg aka Vollick. It reads as follows with my notes inside square brackets [ ]:

This will testify that Albert Hainer a Private in the late Corps of Rangers [referring to Butler's Rangers, whose disbanded soldiers settled the Niagara area of present day Ontario], is married to Catharine Folluck [sic. More commonly written as Vollick or Follick], the daughter of Isaac Follluck, likewise a soldier in said Corps and that she comes under the description of a Loyalists Daughter, and is entitled [can't read next word] U.E. [Unity of Empire, a title applied to Loyalists once they were accepted by the Council and officially declared a Loyalist] and that said Albert Hainer now has five children.

Dated Newark, 14 May 1796.

Source: FHL 1683290 p. 137 of Civil Secreatry's Correspondence, upper Canada, Upper Canada Sundries 1791-1800 RG5 A1 Vol. 1A pp41-556.

It has some pretty amazing genealogy information! I have more proof that my Loyalist ancestor Isaac was in Butler's Rangers, that he had a daughter Catherine who married Albert Hainer before May 1796 and that Albert and Catherine had 5 children by that date. This document also tells me that Albert was also a soldier in Butler's Rangers and that Catherine's father has been approved as a Loyalist (as per her being allowed the title of U.E. after her name)

This leads me to more research - I would now hunt for petitions for both Isaac Vollick, his daughter Catherine and her husband Albert Hainer. They should all have applied for land as Loyalists and their petitions should be found in the Upper Canada Land Petitions.

And thus a new avenue of research opens for me. (As an aside, I have already done this research and have found many petitions for all members of the large family Isaac Vollick brought with him from New York.) Don't miss my book on the Loyalist Isaac Vollick (aka Van Valkenburg)!  

 

From Van Valkenburg to Vollick: The Loyalist Isaac Van Valkenburg aka Vollick and his Vollick & Follick Children available at http://amzn.to/2icnMIw

Don't Overlook Upper Canada Sundries

C-6866 image 878

The Upper Canada Sundries hold an incredible treasure trove of early Ontario genealogy information but are often overlooked by genealogy researchers.

The Sundries date from 1766-1841. This series is part of the Civil Secretary's Correspondence for Upper Canada and Canada West. It consists of letters, petitions, reports, returns and schedules, certificates, accounts, warrants, legal opinions, instructions and regulations, proclamations and other documents received by the Civil Secretary of Upper Canada, 1791-1841, together with copies of some documents of 1766-1809, made for reference purposes. (From Heritage Canada website) 

The Sundries are not indexed but they have been digitized and put online on Heritage Canada on 94 reels of microfilm. Here is an example of what you might find if you take the time to look.

Film C-6866 has the following signatures to a petition dated 1828. If you see your ancestor in the list you can find the image and see how he signed his name.

Just go to Film C-6866, and choose image 878 from the dropdown menu.

Signatures to a petition dated Hamilton, 22nd November 1828. Signatures: James Cope, Barnabus Howard, Andrew Kichen Jr., James Kirkpatrick, John Daly, John K. Cooks, James Blaikie, Joseph A. Crooken, Jacob Cummins, David Cummins, Daniel Cummins, John Cummins, James Park, Samson Howell, Jas. Deary, Joseph Chatterson, Francis McElroy, Phillip Miller, Robert H. Edgar, John Hill, Bernard McKernan, John Adams, William Petrie, Jeramiah S. Hunt, Samuel Cornell, Samuel Betrener, George Hanes, Andrew Vanevery Sr. Peter Vanevery, Andrew Vanevery Jr., Peter VanEvery Jr., Alexander Hanes, Christian Christner, John Muirhead, John J. Cope, Jesse Millard, Moses D. Hunt, Wm. Keane, Benony Cornell, Andrew Whitesel, John D. Cornell, Jacob Cornell, William Cornell, John Ramsay, Seth Knowles, John Deary, James Cope, Barnabas Howard, Andrew Kitchen Jr., James Kirkpatrick, John Dayly, John K. Crooken, James Blaikie, Wm. B. Sheldon, Henry VanWagner, Julius Morgan, W. Turner, Asa Mann, Robert Hilday, Robert L. Hughson, Abram Garvey, Wm. Crownover, John Depue, James Oliver, Michael M. Mills, Samuel Mills, John Saw, Stephen Randal, John Aikman, Joshua Applegarth, Jno Wright, B. Mulhollan, Abraham R. Smith, Shermon Wright, Wm. Sterling, Bucklin Alderman, Samuel J. Riddle, Charles Terry, Hannah E. Hallock, Philip Firth, John Terry, Isaac Stephenson, Peter Jones, Michael Aikman, T.C. Pomroy, Daniel McCollom, George Ransier, Wm, A. Atkin, H. Smith, George Cary, James G. Strobridge, Isaac Horning Sr., David Laing, Joseph Kirkendall, D.L. Dennis, A. Newcomb, Samuel Potts, Richard Hobbs, Amos McVaigh, John Smith, Thomas Hilday, F. Marund, William Wallace, John Watson, Kennet McKensy, Charles McCarty, Sullevan Birtram, Jacob Spaun, John Oleg, George R. Cooper, David Stewart, John Davis, Abraham Sabar, Michael Horner, Joseph Barry, Philip Jones, Samuel Sutton, Peter R. Ludlow, Aaron Glover, George Fonger, Hugh Johnson, Lewis R. Crawford, James Pettit, Peter Glover, John Pettit, Angus McAfee, James Stewart, William Huball, Owen Robert, Philip Magee, Normant Lamont, Thomas Stewart, W. King, James D. Stephens, Wm. Blain, Joseph H. King, W.A. Stephens, Simon Lyons, John McIntire, Clement Lucas, Jacob, Young, Thomas Lucas, Pierre LeClaire, William Lucas, John Snoob, Ephraim Hopkins, N.E. Manwaring, Isaac Smith, James Mills, John Madson, George Lanley, A. Bates, Andrew Gags, John Fonger, Robert Bates, Niel Taylor, John Livingston, William Smith, George Chisholm, James King, John Colquhaun, John Bachelder, David Farly, Thomas Choate, Peter McFee, Era Chisholm, William Kerr, Wm. Case, Peter Hess Sr., Andrew Bradt, Henry Fonger, Adam Crips, Andrew Weage, John Weage, Andrew Flock, John Crips, Christopher Kirk, Isaac Blain, Wm. Terryberry, Jacob Terryberry, Aulno Gorlyck, John Grooms, Leviness Vandusen, Elain Stimson, Thomas Grooms, James Johnson, David Terryberry, Benj. Sharp, Helmus Fredenburgh, Caleb Cook, Harlinde Orton, Samuel Moore, John C. Magiverin, Charles Kirk, Thos, Milnie, Hinry Smith, Be. Magiverin, James Magiverin, Absalom Jones, William Jones, Freeman Dunham, James Taylor, John McColl, Jacob Gorman, Thomas Brooks, Jacob B. Rosenberger, James B. Sterrett, Wm. Parker, Ira Holden, Holmes Vanhowten, Thomas Thornton, John Buckman, Reuben Babcock, James Babcock, Jos. Babcock, Wilder Babcock, Elisha Babcock, John Servos, Cornelius Barley, Henry Scofirt, John Huston, Samuel Burley, Isaac F. Tillotson, Vincent Southand, Mul. Hurd, Nathaniel Hoghson Jr., Stau. H. Holden, D. Sharp, J. Bowen, Jacob Longaine, Lawrence O. Lane, Michael O. Lane, Phillip Bleam, Robert Gillespie, John Bleam, Geor, Gehazel, John Kaye, William Mcauley, Henry Johnson, William Bliss, Samuel Conger, John Freman, Russell Green, Joseph Raboun, Joseph Brayen, William Fry, Henry Lomli, John Dunning, Michael Hess, Egbert E. Mansfield, James Depew, G. Link, Thos. Butlor, William Thomas, Daniel Crosthwaite, Thos. O. Scott, David Hern Jr., John Snider, Henry Snider, Charles Duffy, K. Williams, Abel Worth, John Flanagan, Thomas Bonnett, Richard Springer Jr., John Klasgye, Jacob Middeaugh, Abel Land, Robert Land, George O. Secord, Henry L. Smith, Jonas Bloom, Daniel McKenny, John Henry, Samuel Andress, Isaac Grant, Andrew Hammon, John Freeman, James Rose, Hugh Morrison Sr., Abraham Horning, Abraham Bartholomew, Josiah Bennett, Ira Holton, Abraham Smith, J. Turner, Samuel Potts, Wm. Crownover, H.N. Case, James Strachan, Samuel W.C. Smith, Robert Lackie, Robert Muller, Thomas Reynolds, M.M. Mills, J.W. Cameron, James Sproule, Alexander Forbes, Charles Cooley, T. McBrian, Bart, Glass, J.B. Brown, Jacob Sett, Stephen Blackstone, Joseph Prostan, Alex. McCann, John Worthington, Benjamin Tyde, Andrew McIlroy, Isaac Walton, Andrew Miller, Frederick Ashbaugh, A. Ryckman, Edward Clement, Peter Hess, Nathan Bostwick, William English, Caleb Forsyth, Elijah Forsyth, John Binkley, Samuel Hagle, David Henry, William Binkley, Samuel Binkley, Andrew Kennedy, John Kinbyell, Peter Smock, James Durand, Hugh McMahon, Henry Durand, Christopher Burns, John Leslie, Joseph Magee, Daniel Campbell, John Miller, Elias Mayer, Thomas Miller, Charles Phillips, John Boney, Wm. F. Cox, Thos. Fores, James Chambers, David Oliphant, Salmon Smith, William Clements, Abner Cassiday, John Smoke, James Hammill, Abraham Ryckman, John Rolph, George Frelick, Manuel Overfield, Edward Foran, Samuel Hare, Christopher Case, Richard Hatt, W. Johnson, Mathew Bayley, Thomas Elliott, Robert McCoullough, George F. Rew, James H. Price, John Bastedo, Henry McDonell, George Durand, William Crawford, William Smith, Benjamin Spencer, William McFadden, Alexander Oliphant, Hugh Chambers, Wm. Robinson, James Thorpe, William Hare, William Rymal, J.H. Burkholder, David Burkholder, Jacob Kern, Andrew Flod, Henry Vamers, David R. Springer, Peter Horning, Thomas Taylor, John Davis, John C. Depew, William A. Davis, Aaron Corould, Jacob Thorpe, Joseph Burroughs, John Ryan, Robert Land, Lewis Thanney, William Gage, Jacob Rymal, John Flook, Peter Lampman, Joshua Steves, Caleb Steves, James Johnston, David Kendall, Jacob Ness, William Lottridge, Perius H. Curtis, Robert Lottridge, Jeremiah Shute, John Fox, Eli. Secord, Peter Hogeboom, George Hogeboom, Edward Ward, Samuel Tisdale, Job. Loder, Henry Beasley, James Biggar, Robert Massman, Thos. R. Tisdale, Edward Hakley, David Marr, John McMichael, Adam Marr, Thomas Williams, George Burn, P.L. Hogeboom, Thomas Baker, James Newton, James Humphrey, Richard Cockrell, John Wright, Peter Lamain, James B. Clark, John J. Ryckman, Joseph Carpenter, William Quay, John M. Secord, Samuel R, Merwin, Eli. Eichito, Matthias Crysler, E. Whitteman, Edward Jackson, Hiram Pipen, H.G. Barlow, Nathaniel Lees, Jacob Ten Eyik, Hiram Adair, John Londsy, Samuel Thomas, Edward Zealand, James Garnett, Thomas C. Ward, Benj. Hazelton, John C. Ludlow, Mic. McChurkey, John Hulchinson, Joseph Biluck, Mathias Vannater, John Andeson, Otis Ingalls Jr. George Depew, Thomas Lettridge, Hen, Lekey, Samuel Croudle, Robert Clements, James Gage, Philip Buck, John Bonds, Leander Hooper, W. Sears, William King, W. Turner, Thomas Ashley, Jeremiah Sud, Wm. Turner, Thos. Archer, John Peer, David Farrier, William Carrigue, J. Fisher, Robert Best, W. Cox, Henry F. Magee, John Magee, Aaron Leake, Thomas Bennet, Michael Farrel, Frederick Loun, Horace Sharpe, Jacob Smith, Stephen Jones, Peter Bloom, James Crawford, Robert Black, Joseph Goodale, Green, Oliver Butts Sr., Thos. Corner, Dayton Reeves, Joseph Merrell, Job Massacre, Charles Harris, John Davis, Oliver Butts Sr., David Agnew, John Noles, Wm. Noles, Sam. Lyon, Joseph Harris, Andrew White, Robert Robinson, W.J.S. Bennet, John Cleaver, Peter Bradt,  

Below are the signatures of my Vollick relatives. It was disappointing, but interesting to see that Peter, Isaac and Cornelius could not write their own names, but Matthias could. Peter and Isaac were my 3rd great grandfather's brothers, and I suspect Cornelius was as well, although their father's name was Cornelius and it is possible this is him.

Image 893 - my Vollick family signatures

Peter VOLLICK, Isaac VOLLICK, Cornelius VOLLICK, W. Harris, John Hempstreet, Sanuel Dean, James Dean, John Carpenter, James Hunter, Jacob Hampstreet, Abraham Neff, A.A.W. Jackson, Peter Spaun, An. G. Hoogeman, George Redengbur, David Springsted, Peter D. Springsted, John Lee Spaun, Jacob Springsted, Edward Mann, Joseph Jones, John Biggar, Augustus Jones, W.K. Jones, John McKerr, James Duff, sper H.B. TenEyck, Peter McKirby, John Kenney, Caleb Hopkins, Linsford Mosey, George Hobson, Matthias Vollick, George Glover, Robert Jones, Charles Howard, Wm. Walker, Wm. Livingston, Stephen Sweet, Drake Lewis, Plumer Burley, W. Butts, Bryan Condon, Wm. Parker, Adolphus Flanner, Daniel Stouffer, John Hewit, Samuel Sleighter, John Bricker Jr., Samuel Gaheen, John Wismer, Jacob Wismer, Jacob Shantz, Joseph Martin, Isaac Shantz, Jacob Bleam, Jacob Rosenberger, David Shantz, Peter Beek, G.W. Gusker, Andrew Sears, Abram Beam Sr., Michael Bowen, Jacob Hackerton, Gouvriel Rundrot, J. Keep, Samuel Snyder, Peter Case Jr., Ross Tims, Joseph Kitchen, John Griffeth, Samuel Wood, Norman Ingels, Robert Keefer, Daniel Everitt, Thomas Patten, Wm. Munn, Andrew Armstrong, James Murphy, John Warden, A. Carp, John Kirk, Benjamin Shantz, Martin Ely, William A. Moyers, L. McIntosh, Phinehae Marnam, Peter Erl, George Croft, William Hunsparger, Michael Turner, Christian Bleam, Gideon Southworth, Columbis Gildea, Jacob Bean, David Shantz Jr., John W. Detwiler, William Cub, John Weay, Wm. Springsfield, John Millar, Frederick Millar, Levi Moore, Samuel Moore, Joseph Barber, Abner Roseburgh, Enos Griffeth, Samuel Ranswear, John Gage, Peter Rykert, S. Washburn, Thomas English, William Mitchel, Isaac Griffeth, Alex. Kemp, Peter Carp, Kinear Vansickel, Joseph H. Crooks, Benony Vansickel, Jarvies Evans, Robert Rosebrugh, John Sleeth, Joseph Cornell, Elias W. Forsyth, Jacob Cummins, David Cummins, John Syer, Daniel Cummins, James Parks, William Smith, Lazarus Grifth, Conrad House, Richard Hull, David Rymal, Eli Sly, Abraham Van Norman, Thos. Rich, Thos. G. Chapman, William Finlay, John Howell, John Cummins, Sanson Howell Jr., E. Griffith, John Van Every, William Miller, Calvin Moore, Adam Corner, Ephraim Cummins, Joseph M. Van Norman, David A. Lawrence, Martin Regan, Garnett McHoll, D. Ryan, Pat. Regan, Andrew McVenn, Thomas Johnston, Cornelius Sheehan, John O'Lynch, John Stewart, David Hay, John Brown, Alex. Ross, Alexander McDonnell, David Briles, John Reed, John Smith, Andrew Colburne, Wm. Johnson, Alex. Burt, John McNutty, Thos. Leavy, Charles Armstrong, James Keogh, John Armstrong, John McDonald, Alex. McGregor, Robert Levison, Donald Gilles, Alexander McRea, Hugh McGill, John McGill, Wm. McGill, James McQuillan, Andrew Blacke, James Blacke, John Robson, James Wood, Andrew Morrean, James Tomson, Thomas Brown, Isaac Lennox, John Foster, Chr. Keagh, Edw. Carroll, David Fielding, James Gibson, Patrick Keon, Charles McLeague, John McLeague, Bernard McLeague, James Rogers, Mathew Sweetman, Austin Sweetman, J. Mandafield, Edward Gilmore, Michael Lannon, Mich. Mullen, Joseph Molloy, John Carr, Wm. Thompson, Miles Livingstone, John Weldon, Jas. Thompson, Robt. Morgan, Jos. Morgan, Patrick Caraher, James Walsh, John Sanders, David Gibbs, Thos. Gibbs, Charles Kitchen, James W. Griffeth, Henry Monro, Allan Nixon, John Westwood, Levi Peck, William Mulholland, Rob. Murray, Lawrence Schumerhorn, James VanNatten, William Barber, John Brown, Jemah Banham, Gabriel Hopkins, Adam Almas, Joseph Brown, James W. Noble, Jonathan Stanton, James Barber, Jacob Cope, James Perrine, John Bray, Benjamin Tayler, Ritchard Kitchen, Isaac Willet, Anthony Bunley, George R. Burley, W.O. Burley, David Culp, Edward Evans, James Bigelow, O.W. Everett, John Keagey Sr., Adolphus French, James Gitty, Richard Ayer, Daniel Dotton, Benjamin G. Buker, John Mannen, David Mannen, Elam Bonham, Daniel Snyder, James Given, Abram Gingrich, John Balantine, William Koplin, Geo. Bush, Hugh Brown, Thomas Bourk, Jeremiah Wait, John Davis, Henry Gilmon, William Green, Robert Troop, James Ker, Isaiah K. Millard, Alexander Markle, John Ryckman, Peter Misner, Henry Bloom, Jonas Smith, Benjamin Sneyden, William Green, Peter A. VanEvery, William McCormick, James Hamilton, Duncan McKenzie, David Hill, Smith Connors, Stephen Pembleton, Daniel Anderson, John Wallace, William Misner, Isaac Blosdale, Ephriam Munron, John Owens, Mark T. Brooker, Richard Decker, Edward Carroll, David Aldridge, John Kievell, Hiram Hawkins, William Hickey, George Chambers, William Robbs, David Chambers, Philip Olwell, J. Ginlaw, Jacob Hagey, Jacob Zigter, Henry Oberholtzer, Benj. VanEavery, William Sleith, John Gatins, Sylvester Campbell, Freema Dunham, Rogert Ferrier, Pierre Bliss, Daniel Howell, James B. Morden, Artemus Commins, John Skinner, Geo. Calvert, Samuel Rosebrook, Michael Lancaster, John Mowat, Innes Ker Jr., Jeduthan Bird, Aaron Cornell, James Miller, Edward McQuillen, Jacob Bickart, Barn. Canes, Frances Cochenor, John McMun, David Decken, Alex. McInless, Barnabas O'Neal, George Blurd, Robert McLaghlier, Henry Speara, George N. Horton, Jonah Howell, James Kitchen, John K. Cornwell, James Fonger, Hugh Keachie, Andrew Mc Andrew Flatt, David Abel, John Cope Jr., Daniel Burkholder, Stephen Nisbet, Phillip Cline, Clarkson Freeman, Andrew Banghart, Richard Ayer, Seba Kinniard, P. Elliot, Moses H. Howell, James D. Hare, Michael O. Loan, George Glen, Henry Anderson, Michael Banghart, William Williams, Nicholes Jones, Wm. Burnham, Thos. Hitton, Emey Bedford, Lewis Graham, James Fellenden, William Hamilton, Henry Hannon Jr., John Smith, J. Hathaway, Eli Everitt, William J. Wilson, Charles McCrea, Andrew McCrea, Patrick Coleman, Richard Coleman Jr., George Goodhue, James Waugh, Horace H. Hills, Ralph Morden, Robert Miller, Robert Clements, Henry Cope, Benjamin Burner, Abraham Baker, John S. Green, Edward Thomas, Charles Burnahon, James Banghart, Robert King, Alex. Burner, Thomas Armstrong, Wm. Knowles, William Fonger, John Young, Philip Beemer, Isaac Dewitt, John Dewitt, William Nevills, Rita Hains, David Maul, John T. Cains, Ephraim Vanormin, John Telfer, Samuel Hannon, C. Sullivan, Timothy OKeeffe, William Miller, Richard Coleman, John Coleman, Barzilla Boal, Joseph VanWalkerby, Hugh B. Lee, John Markle, James Blain, Joseph N. Keefer, John Robertson, Thorns Espy, Abner Cheeseman, Mich. O'Neil, George Kintzet, John Hughson Jr., Sebastian Bogel, Adam Thompson, Isaac Smith, Michael Cane, Robert Jameson, Joseph Beemer, William Van Alton, Lent Munson, Thomas Pope, James Fremer, Jacob Fonger, Preserved Cosby, John Cornell, James Hains, John Hains Jr.

Immigrants proceeding to Upper Canada via New York 1817-1819

I've been working on a project called Immigrants proceeding to Upper Canada via New York 1817-1819

Pass #17236 George Underhill, Shropshire, butcher

I have extracted the names and basic information for each of the 199 people who applied for passes to leave New York and enter Upper Canada (present day Ontario)  The actual passes contain more information including age, place of origin, occupation, how many in family and sometimes detailed notes about the immigrant.

The passes begin at Image 33 with number 17228. To find an ancestor pass, just find the name in the list at Immigrants proceeding to Upper Canada via New York 1817-1819 , copy the pass number then go to  Canadiana.org and paste the pass number into the search engine that says "Search within this reel"


For example one name on the list is

17236 George Underhill, Shropshire, butcher, wife + 4 ch

If this were your ancestor you would use the Canadiana.org link above and enter 17266 into the search engine on that site. You can see his pass above.
 
[Source: Upper Canada Sundries, Reference: RG 5 A1, Volume 37, passes numbered 17228-17578, microfilm: C-4601. Civil Secretary's Correspondence - Passes signed by British Consul, New York, for Emigrants from Great Britain, 1817-1819. Microfilm available at Canadiana.org but it is not indexed] 

Immigrants to Upper Canada via New York 1817-1819

I've been working on a project called Immigrants proceeding to Upper Canada via New York 1817-1819

Pass #17236 George Underhill, Shropshire, butcher

I have extracted the names and basic information for each of the 199 people who applied for passes to leave New York and enter Upper Canada (present day Ontario)  The actual passes contain more information including age, place of origin, occupation, how many in family and sometimes detailed notes about the immigrant.

The passes begin at Image 33 with number 17228. To find an ancestor pass, just find the name in the list at Immigrants proceeding to Upper Canada via New York 1817-1819 , copy the pass number then go to  Canadiana.org and paste the pass number into the search engine that says "Search within this reel"




For example one name on the list is 

17236 George Underhill, Shropshire, butcher, wife + 4 ch

If this were your ancestor you would use the Canadiana.org link above and enter 17266 into the search engine on that site. You can see his pass above.
 
[Source: Upper Canada Sundries, Reference: RG 5 A1, Volume 37, passes numbered 17228-17578, microfilm: C-4601. Civil Secretary's Correspondence - Passes signed by British Consul, New York, for Emigrants from Great Britain, 1817-1819. Microfilm available at Canadiana.org but it is not indexed] 

Convicted of High Treason During War of 1812

During the War of 1812,  most of the inhabitants of Upper Canada (present day Ontario) fought on the British side in defence of the colony. Some did their best to stay neutral but some preferred the American side and openly joined the invaders in the fighting.

Civil Secretary's Correspondence, Upper Canada Sundries
May-August 1815, No. 5, A1, Vol. 23

In November and December of 1813 the Canadian militia surprised a group of invaders near Chatham, Ontario. Among the prisoners were 15 residents of Upper Canada. They were sent to York to be tried in the court. Court proceedings began in Ancaster on 23 May 1814. Nineteen men were officially charged with High Treason. In June, the following men were found guity of treason:

Jacob Overholtzer, Aaron Stevens, Garrett Neill, John Johnston, Samuel and Stephen Hartwell, Dayton Lindsey, George Peacock Jr., Isaiah Brink, Benjamin Simmons, Adam Crysler, Isaac Petit, Cornelius Howey, John Dunham, and Noah Payne Hopkinsy. Dayton Lindsey.

Noah Payne Hopkins, John Dunham, Aaron Stevens, Benjamin Simmons, George Peacock Jr., Isaiah Brink and Adam Crysler were executed by hanging on 20 July 1814 at Burlington Heights.

Letter 28 July 1815 Informing Officials of the Deaths

Garrett Neill, Isaac Pettit and Jacob Overholtzer were sent to Kingston Gaol where they remained under sentence of death or transportation for the crime of High Treason. 

Their deaths in prison were reported in 1815 as Garrett Neil on March 6, 1815, Jacob Overholtzer on March 14, 1815 and Isaac Pettit on April 16, 1815 

We learn more details of these men in Vol. XII - Ontario Historical Society, (1923) THE ANCASTER "BLOODY ASSIZE" OF 1814. BY THE HONOURABLE WILLIAM RENWICK RIDDELL, LL.D., F.R.S.C., ETC. Justice of the Supreme Court of Ontario, 1923

Friday, June 17, Issac Petit (Pettit) was placed in the dock before the
Chief Justice. It was made to appear from the evidence that Petit had taken some part with the marauders, but he had refused to accompany them and had been branded as a coward; the case, however, was clear, and he was justly found guilty.

Petitions had already begun to pour in. Jacob Overholzer was described as "an unfortunate but honest old man" by many loyal inhabitants of the Township of Bertie as early as June 11. The Executive Council conferred with the Judges and the Attorney General, and after anxious consideration and careful weighing of all the facts, it was determined that seven might be saved from death; these seven, the Hartwells, Cornelius Howey, Issac Pitt[sic - Petit], Jacob Overholzer, Garret Neill and John Johnson were
respited till July 28, to enable proper enquiry to be made and proper terms fixed for commutation. 

The Chief Justice refusd to advise whom to execute but he recommeded that as the convicted men were all from the Niagara and London Districts, one at least from each District should be executed; at the same time he pointed out that the President had no power to pardon for Treason

In the latter part of the winter there broke out in Kingston Gaol, the dreaded Jail-fever which, under that name, or that of ship-fever, spotted-fever, etc., was the scourge of crowded gaols, ships and other confined places. It was a virulent type of typhus fever, then and for long  after believed to be "generated out of filth and overcrowding, bad diet and close, foul air", but now known to be due to the activity of the busy "cootie", as malaria to the mosquito, and the plague to the rat-flea.

Some of the unhappy prisoners were seized with the disease, and three died of it, Garrett Neill, March 6, Jacob Overholzer, March 14, and Isaac Petit, March 16, 1815.

Finding a Black Ancestor Using Circumstantial Evidence, Part 3

On to Upper Canada Sundries!

Certificate of Character

Still desperately wanting to know where Jonathan's various land lots were located so I could find some exact dates of acquisition and leaving, I decided to next look through the Heir & Devissee Commission records (unindexed but online) and the Upper Canada Sundries (also unindexed but online at Canadiana.org) 

And once more I got lucky. In the Sundries I found a  Certificate of Character for J. Butler, a black man. It was dated March 1816 and noted as in Etobicoke. That was a huge clue! Etobicoke is on the outside western edge of the city of Toronto. I was getting closer to figuring out exactly where Jonathan lived. 

Another clue in this small document is that signer indicated he had known Jonathan for several years. We're slowly narrowing down his immigration from Pennsylvania to Upper Canada *if* this is our man.

This document does not provide a full first name but in 1816 there were very few people in the Toronto township area, and even fewer black men named J. Butler! As well the date of the certificate fits well with Jonathan's petition for land. After the War of 1812 those born in the USA had to either sign an oath or provide a certificate of character and loyalty to the Crown. 


Think Outside the Box

After mulling on this new find I realized that the man who signed the Certificate of Character had to be someone who knew Jonathan fairly well. That meant it was likely to be a neighbour. Therefore if I could read the signature, I could try to find land records for the person signing. That might give me a more precise location for Jonathan in 1816! 

1816 signature

I concluded that the signature was "S Smith".  The first "S" is a very strong straight line S joined to the S in Smith, making it look like a stylized "H" But comparing the signature to the rest of the document leads me to believe it is definitely S. Smith. That meant I was looking for an S Smith in Etobicoke. 

1796 signature

My research found that a Col. Samuel Smith was granted a huge area of land in Etobicoke which he partitioned into smaller sections and leased to early settlers. Etobicoke was right on the border of the exisiting city of Toronto and it seemed very likely that this is where Jonathan had settled after leaving Pennsylvania. 

A check of a map of Toronto Township shows that the Etobicoke River runs along its eastern border. An 1881 map of Toronto Township reveals that Samuel Smith's son or grandson B.S. Smith owns a large tract of land bordering that same river, close to Lake Ontario on the south. The clues are coming together at last! 

Looking for Proof of My Theory

My next step was to prove that the Certificate of Character for Jonathan had indeed been signed by Col. Smith. If it was, it was very strong circumstantial evidence that Jonathan was one of the settlers who leased land from the Col. 

It was easy to find signature samples from Col. Smith. He was an important figure in early Ontario history and as such, signed many documents. You can see a sample of his signature from a 1796 document above. My vote is yes they are the same man. The "S" in Saml. is almost identical to the "S" in Jonathan's Certificate. It is a hard straight line sharp pointed S.

Slow and Steady Wins the Race

And there you have it. This is how I have narrowed my search for Jonathan Butler's whereabouts in Ontario before 1837. A lot of what I have found is circumstantial but as this evidence piles up, each piece adds more weight to what I found previously.

My next step is to find a list of the settlers who leased land from Col. Smith. I might get lucky and find an exact location (lot and concession number). I may have to look further, check other records to find this information but I am hopeful it can be found. It just needs patience and creative thinking. Oh, and not jumping on a "fact" without solid proof or a whole lot of circumstantial evidence to support it!

Part 4 (the last of 4) will be posted tomorrow

List of Prisoners in York (Toronto) Jail 1814

As I've been researching in the Upper Canada Sundries, I've come across many different lists of names. It seems to me that these lists work in several ways - as substitute census records for early Ontario (Upper Canada), as military lists and as in the case below, as lists of prisoners in various jails.

The images are not always easy to read, the filming is often out of focus but I've done my best to transcribe these lists. If you recognize an ancestor and I've erred in transcribing the name, please leave a comment on this blog entry.

I will eventually be publishing all the transcribed lists on my website Olive Tree Genealogy under the Ontario section. Here is the first of my transcriptions:

List of Civilian Prisoners Sent to York (present day Toronto) from Burlington Heights 7 June 1814

List dated June 19, 1814

Daniel Whitman for murder
Lewis Lyons for robbery [See my Footnote 1]
Joshua Thomson for robbery
Benjamin? Mason?
Joshua? Maybe
Edward Landon
Nathaniel Glack
John Glack
Elisha Smith
Peter Loring
T--- Vail [BDM notes perhaps Jacob Vail]
Warren Fenton [see Footnote 2]
Richard Vanaten
Benjamin --- [BDM notes this is Benjamin Soveran (Sovereign?)]
Peter Vanaten (Van Atten?)
Daniel Vesley?
William Sickle?
Griffith Colver
Joseph Wolley
Jonas Sprigg
Barney? Huntley?
William Cronk
 Nathan Man

signed Alex Cuppage? (can't read rest)

Note at bottom left of list: N. Warren Fenton, William Sickle and Griffith Colver were before confined, sent up to Ancaster for [next 6 words difficult to read] (signed) T. T.

Source: Microfilm C 4544 Upper Canada Sundries. Civil Secretary's Correspondence. Volume 20 May-August 1814 p. 8510

Footnote 1: I also found this reference at http://archive.org/stream/jstor-1134290/1134290_djvu.txt to Lewis Lyons and what interests me is the connection to my Ontario Peer family. Lewis' mother was Marcia Peer sister of my ancestor Levi Peer: 

Lewis Lyons was convicted at York (now Toronto) in November, 1814, 
before Chief Justice Thomas Scott, of stealing a sum of money in the 

dwelling house of Harklan [Lorine's note: this should be Harkar]

 Lyons, but pardoned on the recommendation of the trial judge. Can. 

Arch., Sundries, U. C, Sept.-Dec, 1814. 

Lewis' petition to Sir Drummond is found in Vol. 6, p. 36 of RG 5B3 

but this is an old reference. I am looking for updated descriptions and references 

Footnote 2: Warren Fenton has a petition to Sir Drummond on file Vol. 6, p 30-32 

of RG 5B3

12 Months of Finding Ancestors: Upper Canada Sundries (Part 3 of a 12 Part Series)

Welcome to Part 3 of a 12 month series about finding and using less obvious genealogy records to find ancestors. The Upper Canada Sundries are an invaluable genealogical resource but many researchers have never used them.

The Upper Canada Sundries, aka Civil Secretary's Correspondence  are found at LAC (Library and Archives Canada) and at the Ontario Archives. They consist of 32 volumes on 14 reels of microfilm and are an assorted collection of, as the name implies, correspondence.

The main responsibility of the Civil or private Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor was management of correspondence. The Secretary ensured that it was acknowledged, referred onward or filed. Closely related were the duties of receiving and acknowledging Addresses, petitions, memorials and applications for office; transmitting Messages and public documents to the Legislature; and referring petitions to the appropriate public offices for opinion or advice prior to submission to the Executive Council.

Although the province of Upper Canada did not come into existence until 1791, supporting documents of earlier date have been incorporated into some series of its records.

The Sundries are filed chronologically. There is no name index but the wealth of genealogical information makes them worthwhile to browse through. They contain an assortment of such genealogical items as undated petitions, marriage certificates, land records, letters, petitions for land, testimonies during wartime, military records, petitions for mercy for those charged with treason, etc.

Following is one example which I found during a lengthy search of the Upper Canada Sundries. It concerns the daughter of my Loyalist Ancestor Isaac Van Valkenburg aka Vollick. It reads as follows with my notes inside square brackets [ ]:

This will testify that Albert Hainer a Private in the late Corps of Rangers [referring to Butler's Rangers, whose disbanded soldiers settled the Niagara area of present day Ontario], is married to Catharine Folluck [sic. More commonly written as Vollick or Follick], the daughter of Isaac Follluck, likewise a soldier in said Corps and that she comes under the description of a Loyalists Daughter, and is entitled [can't read next word] U.E. [Unity of Empire, a title applied to Loyalists once they were accepted by the Council and officially declared a Loyalist] and that said Albert Hainer now has five children.

Dated Newark, 14 May 1796.

Source: FHL 1683290 p. 137 of Civil Secreatry's Correspondence, upper Canada, Upper Canada Sundries 1791-1800 RG5 A1 Vol. 1A pp41-556.

It has some pretty amazing genealogy information! I have more proof that my Loyalist ancestor Isaac was in Butler's Rangers, that he had a daugher Catherine who married Albert Hainer before May 1796 and that Albert and Catherine had 5 children by that date. This document also tells me that Albert was also a soldier in Butler's Rangers and that Catherine's father has been approved as a Loyalist (as per her being allowed the title of U.E. after her name)

This leads me to more research - I would now hunt for petitions for both Isaac Vollick, his daughter Catherine and her husband Albert Hainer. They should all have applied for land as Loyalists and their petitions should be found in the Upper Canada Land Petitions.

And thus a new avenue of research opens for me. (As an aside, I have already done this research and have found many petitions for all members of the large family Isaac Vollick brought with him from New York.)