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| Records of the Bay of Quinte Background In 1791, the Constitutional Act established Upper Canada and one of the edicts was that one seventh of all land was to be 'reserved' for protestant clergy. In practice reserves were also set aside for schools and other uses such as canals, defence, etc. In this case, Lot 19, including the Broken Front, Concession 1 in Sidney Township, Hastings County, had been set aside as a 'school reserve.' In 1821 a small group of inhabitants petition to have John Weaver removed from the lot and to acquire a deed for a school lot. Nothing appears to have happened for a decade. Then, in April 1830, a notice of a meeting for May 1830 is made and Resolutions are drawn up at the meeting. The resulting petition below is not dated but was circulated and signed at or following the May meeting. The petition is signed by 104 inhabitants asking to have this lot deeded to the community "to establish a school in a few years uppon more liberal principals that what we have yet had in this Township The well known Belden Atlas of Hastings and Prince Edward Counties, 1878, reprinted by Mika Pub., 1977, [p. 6] shows the full lot as "School Lands" and a school situated on the north side of the road which cuts across the lot. This old school site is today the site of Bayside Secondary School on the north east side of the intersection of Aikins Rd and Hwy 2. Much of the lot is still undeveloped. Gerry Boyce, well known Belleville historian, published an article about this school site; 'The Bayside Property and School,
1784-1874` in Ontario History`Volume XLIV Number 4 (December
1972), pages 181-200. |
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The 1821 petition was transcribed by Peter Johnson and posted with permission on this web site in 2007. Five years later the 1831 petition was found and is now added to complete the story. Carm Foster did all the transcribing of the 1831 petition. Thanks to Peter and Carm. Signatures can be a challenge to transcribe. Let me know if you think names have been misread. © Randy Saylor, Jan 2012 Source: Source: Upper Canada Land Petitions, RG1 L3, LAC, V 466, 1830, bundle S 16, #136, film at AO, C-2816 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| THE 1821 23 Jan 1821 To his Excellency Sir Peregrun Maitland Knight Commander of the most honorable Military order Leiutenant Governor of the &c &c &c We your petitioners humbly preyeth that your Excellency will be graciously pleased to Issue an order to remove John Weaver off from Lot Number Nineteen in the first Concefsion of the Township of Sidney County of Hasting Midland District and province of Upper Canada as the said Lot Number Nineteen was reserved for a School Lot and we your petitioners are wishing to use it for the same, and we your petitioners humbly preyeth that your Excellency will be pleased to Issue a Grant of the said Lot Number Nineteen to Reuben White & Peter Stickle as trustees to the said School Lot Number Nineteen together with its broken front. Dated at Reuben White Jacob Bonesteel Jacob Rose James H. Hinson (?) Jacob Ford Peter Simmons Peter Stickle Jonas Lott Charles Bonisteel Nicholas Simmons John his X mark Bonisteel Charles Simmons George Smith William Kelley Henrey Bonesteel George Finkle |
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| NOTICE of a MEETING Sidney April 12th 1830 Notice is hereby given that a public meting will be held on Saturday the 8th day of May next at 2 oclock in the after noon at the hous of Daniel Ostroms in Sidney for the purpose of chosing trustees - for the Lott of land reserved for the benefit of a public school in the 1st. Consesion of the Township of Sidney |
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| RESOLUTIONS Sidney the 8th day of May 1830 Resolved 1st That it is our firm belief that Lott Number nineteen with its Broken front in the first Consession of the Township of Sidney was reservd by government for the benefit of a public school for this Township Resolved 2d That it was the intention of government to grant a Deed to three Trustees and their successors Duly appointed when ever the same should be applied for in a proper manner 3d That it is highly necessary that we now obtain a Deed for the said Lott and we do appoint Daniel Ostrom - Elijah Ketcheson and Jacob Finkle Trustees in order to obtain a Deed for same 4th That by obtaining said Lott and appropiating the benefits arising from the same towards defraying the expences of a public school will be greatly beneficial to the inhabitants of this vicinity and will be likely to give encouragement for the inhabitants to establish a school in a few years uppon more liberal principals that what we have yet had in this Township |
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THE 1830 PETITION [undated] To The petition of the undersigned inhabitants of the County of Hastings humbly shewith - That in the original Survey of the Township of Sidney lot number nineteen with the broken front in front of the same in the first concession of the said Township was reserved for the use and benefit of a School to be established in the Said Township That a public meeting of the inhabitants of the said Township has been after due notice held at which several resolutions were passed a copy of which your petitioners hereunto annex with a view of furthering the benefiient instructions of the Government and for the purpose of carrying the object of the said meeting into effect. Your petitioners humbly pray Your Excellency that the said lands so reserved may be granted to the Trustees in the said resolutions named, for the uses and trusts originally intended by the Crown. And Your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray - | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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NOTES on the PETITION FOLD The Petition of Solomon Hazelton & others praying that Lot No. 19 with the Broken front in the 1st. Conc. of Sidney reserved for the use of a School, may be granted to certain Trustees, for that purpose. Government House 11th January 1831 Referred to the Surveyor General to report hereon for the information of the Honbl. Executive Council By Command JL. ?udse? Lot No 19 in the first Concession and Broken front of the Township of Sidney containing 298 Acres is returned by the Quebec Plan and Deputy Surveyors Plan and Schedule as reserved for School Under order of His Excellency Lieut Governor Gore of the 21st November 1818 a description for a license of occupation issued from this office in the name of John Weaver GSO? 25 Jany 1831 W Chewett Actg Survey Genl In Council 5th May 1831 Recommended that information be first obtained from John Weaver relative to any improvements made by him on said Lot, in order that his interests may be protected in any Deed of trust by giving him an opportunity to lease the same from the Trustees, on such terms as may be deemed just. I B copy ???[to light to read] petition and ??? [too light to read] Weaver?. Sp-c n ? C See Petition from John Weaver read in Council 12d June 1831 |
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