Synopses & Reviews
The Capital Years is being published to celebrate the bicentennial anniversary of the opening of the first parliament of Upper Canada.
Nine scholars have contributed to
The Capital Years, which explores the daily life of the inhabitants during the time period 1792-1796 when the area served as Upper Canada's capital. Their knowledge and expertis give the book depth and breadth of scholarship at this time in Ontario's history from 1792-1796.
"The Niagara Historical Society and its editors deserve considerable credit for producing this commemorative volume."
-- James M. Clemens, Ontario History
"This is a marvellous addition to the historical record of early Ontario history."
-- Brian Henley, Hamilton Spectator, 02/29/1992
"The writing is of consistently high quality ... The Capital Years ... is informative for provincial as well as local history." - Wesley B. Turner, CBRA, 01/01/1991
'... a wonderful compendium of essays which collectively provide a valuable glimpse of Niagara-on-the-Lake during the community's formative years.' -- Paul Fortier , The Canadian Historical Review
Contains the following essays:
- Building a Town: Plans, Surveys, and the Early Years of Niagara-on-the-Lake - Joy Ormsby
- Patronage and Power: The Early Political Culture of the Niagara Peninsula - Bruce G. Wilson
- Military Life at Niagara, 1792-1796 - Brian Leigh Dunnigan
- Religion and Community - Michael Power
- Muslin Gowns and Moccasins - Elizabeth Severin
- Victuals and Viands in the New Province of Upper Canada - Dorothy Duncan
• At Home in Early Niagara Township - Peter Moogk
• Early Inns and Taverns: Accommodation, Fellowship, and Good Cheer - Richard D.Merritt
• Health, Disease, and Treatment in Early Upper Canada - Charles G. Roland
Review
"... a wonderful compendium of essays which collectively provide a valuable glimpse of Niagara-on-the-Lake during the community's formative years." Wesley B. Turner - CBRA
Review
"This is a marvellous addition to the historical record of early Ontario history." Brian Henley
Review
"The writing is of consistently high quality ... The Capital Years is informative for provincial as well as local history." Hamilton Spectator
Review
"The Niagara Historical Society and its editors deserve considerable credit for producing this commemorative volume." Paul Fortier - The Canadian Historical Review
Review
Index
Adams, George, 189
Addison, Robert, 29-30,103-4,211;107-18; death of, 118; missionary endeavours of, 115
Agricultural Society, 151-5,199,202
Ague. See Fever
Albany Presbytery, 103-4,119,175
Alcohol. See Drink
Americans, 60
Amerindian medicine, 224-6; See also First Nations; Indians
Amputation, 243-4
Atkinson, Mary, 108
Bangs, Nathan, 115
Baptists, 104-5
Berczy, William, 197,239-40
Black Swamp Road, 190
Bleeding, 227-31
Bolton, Mason, 16
"Bottoms," 199-200
Bowman, Peter, 168
Brant, Joseph, 139
Breweries, 207
Buffalo Creek Village, 91
Bunting, Samuel, 170
Burch, John, 170
Burghardt, Andrew, 188
Burke, Edmund (British statesman), 196
Burke, Edmund (Roman Catholic
priest), 105
Butler, Ann, 175
Butler, John, 15,17,21,23,48-50,52, 54-5,64,91,123; death of, 38; and John Stuart, 109; portrait of, 48; and Robert Addison, 111-12
Butlersburg, 20,23
Butler's Rangers, 16-17,23,25,46-8,52, 54,94
Calomel, 231
Campbell, Elizabeth, 177-8
Campbell, Robert, 173
Canadian Constitution, 145
Cartwright, Richard, 51-4,56,62,114-15,118
"Castle," 72
Childbirth, 244-8
Chippawa Creek, 74-5
Church of England, 103,107-18,201
Church of Scotland, 103,118-26
Claus, Daniel, 55,167
Claus, William, 55,168,170,175
Clench, Ralfe, 40,88,119,123-4;silhouette of, 39
Clendenning, John, 120
Clergy reserves, 113
Cloth, 132-4,136-9
Coffee houses. See Niagara Coffee House; Toronto Coffee House
Collins, John, 21,23,25,27
Cookbooks, examples of early, 158
Cooper, William, 208
Court-house, 39
Court of Common Pleas, 52,54,57,61-2
Crooks, Francis, 200
Crooks, James, 109
De Peyster, A.S., 21
Desjardins, Philippe-Jean-Louis, 105
Detroit, 83,197
Dickson, William, 166,169,175-6,178;home of, 35
Diseases, Chapter Nine
Dissenters, 113,122; See also Religion
Dolsen, John, 235
Dorchester, Lord (Guy Carleton), 24-5, 68
Doty, John, 108-9
Drink, 205-8
Dun, John, 103-4,118-26,201; Addison's impression of, 121-2;death of, 126
Dunbar, William, 120
Dundas, Henry, 113
Dunham, Darius, 106-7
Dunlop, "Tiger," 204
Ed wards, Joseph, 203
Elections, 62-3
"elements," 229-30
Ellsworth house, 23
Emery, John, 179-80
Executive Council, 38
Fabrics, See Cloth
Fairbanks, Jv 193
Fallen Timbers, Battle of, 69
Fanning, John, 192
Farming, 150-6
Fever and ague, 226,238-40
Field, Gilbert, 208
Fields, Rosannah, 177,179
Fifth (5th) Regiment of Foot, 76-80
First Nations: food of, 144-5; and white settlers, 145; See also Amerindian medicine; Indians
Fitzgerald, Dennis, 175-6
Food, Chapter Six, 204-8
Forsyth, Catherine, 173-5
Fort Erie, 75,197,238; painting of, 74
Fort George, 40,96,177,204; Catholic soldiers at, 105
Fort Miami, 69,83
Fort Mississauga, 169
Fort Niagara, Chapter Three, 16,21, 35,40,45,48,199; arrival of Americans at, 95-7; early history of, 70; paintings of, 70,72,74; supplying provisions to, 93-4
Fort Schlosser, 74
Fractures, 244
Freemasons, 124-5
Freemason's Hall, 27-8,34, 111, 155, 199,202-3
Frey, Philip, 21,23,25
Fur traders: food of, 145-7
Games, 204
Gisso, Karl, 177
Goldie, John, 165
Government Farm, 18
Grand Portage, 145-6
Grand River Reserve. See Six Nations
Grant, Alexander, 87
Grier, John, 173
Grimsby: Anglican church at, 112
Haldimand, Frederick, 15-16,146
Hamilton: city of, 188
Hamilton, Robert, 15,22,36,39,50-1,94,123,133; and the Court of Common Pleas, 57-8,62; death of, 64; family of, 55,123-4; home of, 28,58-9,171,197; and John Stuart, 109; and land holdings, 60-1;portrait of, 50; and pro-Americanism,59-60; as tory gentleman, 58-9
Harkman, David, 170
Harmar, Josiah, 68
Heron, Andrew, 39,119-20,123
Hind, Thomas, 193
Hind's Hotel, 119,201
Holland, Samuel, 26
Holmes, Ben, 178
Hudson's Bay Company, 146
Hughes, Thomas, 71
Indian Council House, 40,199
Indian Department, 46,48-52,54-5,89-91
Indians, 23,68-9,137-40; See alsoAmerindian medicine; First Nations
Inglis, Charles, 109,123
Inn: definition of, 187; description of, 209-11
Innkeepers, 211-2; list of, 212-6
Iroquois Trail, 188-9
Jameson, Anna, 175
Jarvis family, 136
Jarvis, Hannah, 235-8,245,247;
portrait of, 136
Jarvis, William, 28-9,170,179,201,235,245
Jay's Treaty, 69,95-6
Johnson, John, 49,53-5
Johnson, William, 17,49,108
Jones, Augustus, 15,21,25-7,35
Kaune, Charles, 178
Kerr, Robert, 119,124,156,234,239;portrait of, 233
King's Head Inn, 150
King's Royal Regiment, 53
La Corne, Louis, 105
Lake Lodge, 30,116; photo of, 110
Land Board, 25,53,57-8
"Landing," 190
Law Society of Upper Canada, 203
Lawe, George, 173,177,180
Le Dru, Antoine, 105
Leeming, Ralph, 115
Legislative Council, 53-4
Lenox, 27
London, 31
"Lower Landing/' 73
Loyalists, 189
Macaulay, James: portrait of, 228
McBride, John, 131,140
McDonald, John, 119
Macdonell,Allan,18,23
McE wan, John, 172
McFarland, John, 176
McKay, John, 170
MacKearn, William, 172
Mackenzie, Alexander, 197; portrait of,196
MacKie, Alexander, 169,173
McLean, Neil, 247
McNabb, Allan, 65
Maidenhair fern, 235
Malaria. See Fever and ague
Marriage Act of 1793,114-15
Masonic Lodge. See Freemason's Hall
Mason's Lodge. See Freemason's Hall
Merchants, 56-7,64,123,140,198;resentment of, 62
Merritt, William Hamilton, 65
Methodists, 105-6
Michilimackinac, 76
Midwifery, 245
Military, the: food of, 147-8; life of,91-3; and the taverns, 198-9
Militia, Upper Canadian, 75,88-9
Mississaugas, 17,55,137
Mohawk Trail, 189
Montreal Presbytery, 125
Mountain, Jacob, 111
Muirhead, James, 173,175,177-8
Murray, James, 113
Nassau, District of, 25,88
Navy Hall, 15,20,26,40,58,73,83,96,111,197,202; sketch of, 73
Neal, George, 106-7
Newark. See Niagara-on-the-Lake
Niagara. See Niagara-on-the-Lake
Niagara Coffee House, 165,176,208
Niagara Circuit: class leaders of, 107
Niagara Falls, 196-7,234
Niagara-on-the-Lake: Catholic soldiersin, 199; commons of, 40; early settlers of, 16-18,156-9; homes of,28-32,35; inns of, 208-11; merchants of, 34-5,56-7; public buildings of, 34; surveys of, 18-20 (first), 20-2 (second), 25-31 (third), 35-6 (fourth)
Oakley, John, 104
Oglivie, John, 108
Ojibwa, 139-40
Oliver, James, 179
Oswegatchie, 76
Oswego, 76
Parliament, [14]
Peruvian bark, 226,235,239
Place, Daniel, 169
Player, George, 107
Poor: clothing the, 140
Portage Road, 94-5,192
Powell, John, 175
Powell, William Dummer, 245
Powis, Thomas, 165-6,208
Presbyterian Church. See St Andrew's Church
Prideaux, John, 108
Provincial Marine, 75,85-7,195; ships of the, 87,195
Puisaye, Joseph Genevieve, Comte de, 105
Puking, 231-3
Purging, 231-3
Queen's Rangers, 74-5,82-5,190
Queenston, 22-3,28,73,106,133,167,169,174,177,179,188,197-8,203;Anglican church at, 112
Raffald, Elizabeth: portrait of, 159
Religion, Chapter Four, 60; See also
Dissenters
Robertson, William, 54,177
Rochefoucauld-Liancourt, Due de la, 32,166,195,234,239
Roman Catholics, 105
Rorback, Andrew, 192
Royal Canadian Volunteer Regiment of Foot, 105
Royal Regiment of Artillery, 75,80-2
Royal Scots Regiment, 171
Russell, Elizabeth, 31-2,135-6,151,231,237-39
Russell, Peter, 29,38,231-2,239-40;estate of, 34; portrait of, 232
Ryan, Charles, 127,179
St Andrew's Church, 39; bill of scantling for, 119; description of, 120; painting of, 121; prominent members of, 123; records of, 103; Simcoe's attitude towards, 122
St Catherines: Anglican church at, 112
StClair, Arthur, 68
St David's, 167-9,173,189
St John de Crevecoeur, 23
St Mark's Church: burning of, 118;picture of, 117; records of, 103,112
Sanders, John, 171
Secord, David, 173,189-90
Secord, James, 174
Sects. See Religion; Dissenters
Servos, Daniel, 137,140,162
Servos family, 132,140
Shane, 150; See also Sheehan
Sheehan, Walter Butler, 15-16,22,25;See also Shane
Shipman's Corners, 189
Shipping, 195
Simcoe, Elizabeth Posthuma Gwillim,[14], 59,110,112,131-2,134-5,143,157,171,239; and food, 149-50,161-2; and medical remedies,234-5,237
Simcoe, John Graves, 15,23,38,54,62-4,68-9,88,104,110,112,131,143,189; biographical sketch of,[14]; entourage of, 28
Six Nations, 55,91,109,112,115
Slingerlandt family, 179-80
Smith, David William, 35,63,166,169;home of, 33
Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts (SPG),104
Sons of St Andrew, 201
Stage coach, 192-3
Stamford, Presbyterian congregation at, 118
Stewart, Jemima, 175
Street, Samuel, 22,24,52,63
Street, Timothy, 175
Stuart, John, 109, 111
Surgery, 242-4
Surveyors: food of, 148-9
Tavern: definition of, 187
Thompson, Elizabeth, 181
Tice, Christina, 192
Tinling, Lieutenant, 20
Todd, Isaac, 54
Toronto Coffee House, 208
Transportation, Chapter Eight
Treaty of Paris, 18
Upper Canada Gazette, 104,124,126,162,203,206-7
"Upper Landing," 74
Vanalstine, Jacob, 139-40
Wallace's Tavern, 201
Walton, Shubbal, 21
Warner, Christian, 106
War of 1812 Losses Claims, Chapter Seven
Washington, George, 228-31
Wayne, Anthony, 69
Weld, Isaac, 38,75,95,116,195
White, John, 32,57,203,240
Willcocks, Joseph, 179
Wilson, Charles, 192
Wilson, James, 203
Wine, 155-6,207-8
Winslow, Edward, 245
Women, 93
Yellow House Tavern, 170
York, town of, 31,192,197
Young, John, 119 Paul Fortier - The Canadian Historical Review
Synopsis
A detailed look at how the people of the Niagara area lived 200 years ago.
Synopsis
The Capital Years is being published to celebrate the bicentennial anniversary of the opening of the first parliament of Upper Canada.
Nine scholars have contributed to this book, which explores the daily life of the inhabitants during the time period 1792-1796 when the area served as the capital of Upper Canada. Their knowledge and expertise give the book depth and breadth of scholarship.
About the Author
Nancy Butler is the past president of the Niagara Historical Society.
Richard D. Merritt was co-editor and contributing author of The Capital Years: Niagara-on-the-Lake 1792-1796. Although an ophthalmologist by profession, he has had a lifelong interest in Niagara's history. In 2009 he was named Niagara-on-the-Lake's Citizen of the Year for his contributions to heritage preservation.
Michael Power is a researcher for the Ontario Historical Foundation.
Table of Contents
Preface 7
Foreword 9
1 Building a Town: Plans, Surveys, and the Early Years of Niagara-on-the-Lake - Joy Ormsby 15
2 Patronage and Power: The Early Political Culture of the Niagara Peninsula - Bruce G. Wilson 45
3 Military Life at Niagara, 1792-1796 - Brian Leigh Dunnigan 67
4 Religion and Community - Michael Power 103
5 Muslin Gowns and Moccasins - Elizabeth Severin 131
6 Victuals and Viands in the New Province of Upper Canada - Dorothy Duncan 143
7 At Home in Early Niagara Township - Peter Moogk 165
8 Early Inns and Taverns: Accommodation, Fellowship, and Good Cheer - Richard D.Merritt 187
9 Health, Disease, and Treatment in Early Upper Canada - Charles G. Roland 223
Contributors and Editors 251
Index 253