Arnprior & McNab/Braeside Archives

Format

textual records

Collection/Fonds

Peter Hessel collection

Description Level

File

Fonds No.

0021

Series

1

Subseries

GOV

Scope and Content

Photocopies of government correspondence from 1830 and 1837, dealing with McNab Township.

1. PAC R.G.1 E3 vol. 53, pp. 63-65 b: In May 1830, the government of Upper Canada commissioned Alexander McDonnell, Crown Land Agent for the Newcastle District, to investigate the status of the new McNab settlement, He reported to the Honourable Peter Robinson (York, June 25, 1830). McDonnell was sent to McNab Township (following complaints and petitions) to investigate the status of the settlement. He reported that “the settlers I found generally less comfortable and by no means as far advanced in their improvements as those I have seen settled more recently in other townships, this I attribute in a great measure to the very inferior quality of the soil. — Such of the settlers as emigrated from Scotland with the intention of settling in McNab complain much of the terms of their agreement entered into with their Chief in that Country, previous to their embarkation for Canada, which terms in their present circumstances they seem to think it impossible they can comply with, as their farms do not produce more than a sufficient supply for the wants of their families. — With very few exceptions the settlers were not proceeding with their clearings, as I understood from the idea that increasing them added to their annual rent. —

2. PAC R.G.1 E3 vol. 53, pp. 69-70: The Laird of McNab had asked the government to help him collect money owed to him by the settlers. The government (Minute in Council of August 11, 1837) ruled in his favour and recommended that the Laird be assisted in “enforcing performance”, instructing the Attorney General (of Upper Canada) to “give notice to the recudant [sic] parties that unless they perform the conditions under which they were allowed to locate, they will be ejected by a proceeding on the grant of the Crown ... After these measures shall have been resorted to, the Council will not refuse to entertain any application for a more effectual course of proceeding, should such become necessary.”

3. Photocopy of pages 53-54 from McNab - The Township, dealing with the above matters (Petitions by settlers).

Notes

See also file: “Petitions by Settlers” in Peter Hessel Fonds.

Accession No.

1994-0021

Less detail