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Early Settlement Villages Churches 1842 Government Highways 1850 Council Hotel Licences Officials  |
1842 Downie, Ontario Government
The municipal history of Downie begins in 1842. Prior to this period all appointments were made by the Crown or Court of Magistrates, who were appointees of Government. In terms of the Act of 1841, a meeting of the inhabitants of Downie, Blanshard, and Fullarton was held in the school house, Stratford, to elect certain officers and pass such legislation for their local government as they considered necessary. At this meeting George Dixon was chosen chairman, J. C. W. Daly elected district councillor; Matthew Robb, township clerk; William Cashen, assessor, and George Gibb, collector. For school commissioners were chosen, William Smith, James Monteith, John Gibb, Samuel Robb and Arad Priest. This meeting also appointed overseers of highways and housekeepers. In 1842, Downie had fourteen road divisions, which were in charge of James Carpenter for No. 1; No. 2, Henry Reinstaller; No. 3, William Dunn; No. 4, Edward Donkin; No. 5, Samuel Monteith; No. 6, Arad Priest and Mathew Wilson; No. 7, John Switzer; No. 8, Charles Rankin; No. 9, Patrick Heron; No. 10, George Dixon; No. 11, Samuel Colter; No. 12, Thomas Canville; No. 13, James Boyd; No. 14, John Ballantyne. Fence viewers: Jacob Cramer, Michael Balt, for Fullarton; Richard Cawston and Thomas Nielson, for Downie. Poundkeepers were John A. McCarthy and Joseph Jeosswiller. These officers were the first elected by the people in this county. In looking over these road lists an approximation may be arrived at, as to population in Downie at that period. There can be very little doubt that the name of every able-bodied person was placed on the lists, every person being required to perform statute labour. In 1842, one hundred and twenty-three ratepayers were recorded, this, of course, including that portion of Stratford situate in Downie. These performed three hundred and ninety-five days' labour. Assuming each of those ratepayers represented a family of three, this would give Downie a population, including a portion of Stratford, amounting to less than four hundred souls.
Their electoral duties being thus completed, that of legislation was next taken up, and by-laws were passed:- "1st. That every rail fence should be four and one-half feet high, above which was to be posts and a single rider, the lower four rails not more than four inches apart. 2nd. Breachy cattle, not allowed to run at large, unless yoked with a T, having two sharp nails opposite the nose, and also to carry a bell. Stags not allowed to run. No pigs allowed to run under two months old; all above that to be free commoners. Any hog, whatever, committing damage within a legal fence, to be impounded, and all breachy hogs to be sufficiently yoked. All poultry shall go at large, except from the time the grain begins to ripen until it is in the shock. If a tree falls across a road, it must be removed by the nearest settler within twenty-four hours." These by-laws were again amended in 1845, '47, '48 and '49. Mr. Robb appears to have been a careful officer, diligently performing those duties appertaining to his office. On January 3, he says he attended the election of a district councillor. He put up notices for township officers to attend at Stratford, and sign their declarations. He sent a copy of his proceedings to the Clerk of the Peace in Goderich, and posted another on the schoolhouse door in the village.
In connection with this meeting a cash account was submitted, of funds expended on roads by the magistrates. In Downie these disbursements amounted in 1842 to £33, 17s., 9 1/2d.. £3 was paid to William Monteith for money expended in 1839. Mr. Thomas Patrick was paid £2 for repairing Stratford bridge. Mr. Robb received a further sum of £4, as a fine levied on Elizabeth Nichols also £1, 8s., 9d., wild land taxes. He also received 12s., 6d. from J. J. E. Linton, statute labour commutation, and which he paid to J. C. W. Daly. Of this sum, 6s., 6d., was afterwards refunded to Mr. Linton, which closed the first statement of account submitted in Downie.
The municipal history of Downie begins in 1842. Prior to this period all appointments were made by the Crown or Court of Magistrates, who were appointees of Government. In terms of the Act of 1841, a meeting of the inhabitants of Downie, Blanshard, and Fullarton was held in the school house, Stratford, to elect certain officers and pass such legislation for their local government as they considered necessary. At this meeting George Dixon was chosen chairman, J. C. W. Daly elected district councillor; Matthew Robb, township clerk; William Cashen, assessor, and George Gibb, collector. For school commissioners were chosen, William Smith, James Monteith, John Gibb, Samuel Robb and Arad Priest. This meeting also appointed overseers of highways and housekeepers. In 1842, Downie had fourteen road divisions, which were in charge of James Carpenter for No. 1; No. 2, Henry Reinstaller; No. 3, William Dunn; No. 4, Edward Donkin; No. 5, Samuel Monteith; No. 6, Arad Priest and Mathew Wilson; No. 7, John Switzer; No. 8, Charles Rankin; No. 9, Patrick Heron; No. 10, George Dixon; No. 11, Samuel Colter; No. 12, Thomas Canville; No. 13, James Boyd; No. 14, John Ballantyne. Fence viewers: Jacob Cramer, Michael Balt, for Fullarton; Richard Cawston and Thomas Nielson, for Downie. Poundkeepers were John A. McCarthy and Joseph Jeosswiller. These officers were the first elected by the people in this county. In looking over these road lists an approximation may be arrived at, as to population in Downie at that period. There can be very little doubt that the name of every able-bodied person was placed on the lists, every person being required to perform statute labour. In 1842, one hundred and twenty-three ratepayers were recorded, this, of course, including that portion of Stratford situate in Downie. These performed three hundred and ninety-five days' labour. Assuming each of those ratepayers represented a family of three, this would give Downie a population, including a portion of Stratford, amounting to less than four hundred souls.
Their electoral duties being thus completed, that of legislation was next taken up, and by-laws were passed:- "1st. That every rail fence should be four and one-half feet high, above which was to be posts and a single rider, the lower four rails not more than four inches apart. 2nd. Breachy cattle, not allowed to run at large, unless yoked with a T, having two sharp nails opposite the nose, and also to carry a bell. Stags not allowed to run. No pigs allowed to run under two months old; all above that to be free commoners. Any hog, whatever, committing damage within a legal fence, to be impounded, and all breachy hogs to be sufficiently yoked. All poultry shall go at large, except from the time the grain begins to ripen until it is in the shock. If a tree falls across a road, it must be removed by the nearest settler within twenty-four hours." These by-laws were again amended in 1845, '47, '48 and '49. Mr. Robb appears to have been a careful officer, diligently performing those duties appertaining to his office. On January 3, he says he attended the election of a district councillor. He put up notices for township officers to attend at Stratford, and sign their declarations. He sent a copy of his proceedings to the Clerk of the Peace in Goderich, and posted another on the schoolhouse door in the village.
In connection with this meeting a cash account was submitted, of funds expended on roads by the magistrates. In Downie these disbursements amounted in 1842 to £33, 17s., 9 1/2d.. £3 was paid to William Monteith for money expended in 1839. Mr. Thomas Patrick was paid £2 for repairing Stratford bridge. Mr. Robb received a further sum of £4, as a fine levied on Elizabeth Nichols also £1, 8s., 9d., wild land taxes. He also received 12s., 6d. from J. J. E. Linton, statute labour commutation, and which he paid to J. C. W. Daly. Of this sum, 6s., 6d., was afterwards refunded to Mr. Linton, which closed the first statement of account submitted in Downie.
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