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| Records of the Bay of Quinte Background The two petitions below request the government to resurvey the 1st & 2nd concessions South West of Green Point in Sophiasburgh Township, Prince Edward County in 1821 and again in 1827. Settlers found that the lots had not been extended back as suggested in the original plan causing serious conflicts between neighbours. In the 1822 petition the inhabitants state that, "We therefore for the setling peace and amity in the said Township do most humbly pray that your Excellency will see fit to grant an order for the survey of the Township to be regulated and finished agreeable to Mr Atkins plan of the Township" The Council recommended "Let the parties interested suggest some plan agreeable to all to settle the difficulty." It appears the issue was not resolved because in 1827, inhabitants petitioned again about the same survey problems. In its decision, the Executive Council "see[s] no objection to the Survey within prayed for at the expense of the Petitioners - but the right of Individuals are only bound by the original Govt. Survey." These petitions illustrate how the process worked and tell a story at the same time. The settlers set out their grieveance in a petition to the Council and usually, in land issues, a report was requested from the Surveyor. The Council then used the report to make an informed decision. See also these other petitions dealing with Sophiasburgh inhabitants.
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Randy Saylor, Jan 2012. I would like thank Carm Foster for doing all the transcription of these petitions. Source 1: Upper Canada Land Petitions, RG 1 L3, Sophiasburgh, 1821, V461, bundle S16, #66, AO, C-2813 Source 2nd: Upper Canada Land Petitions, RG 1 L3, Sophiasburgh, 1827, V464, bundle S15, #19, AO, C-2815 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 1821 Petition To his Excellency Sir Perigrine Maitland K. G. B. Lieutenant Govornor of the Province of Upper Canada in Council &c. &c. &c. The Petition of the undersigned Inhabitants in the Township of Sophiasburgh in the County of Prince Edward. Humbly Sheweth That the survey of the Township of Sophiasburgh was left unfinished by Mr Atkins late deputy surveyor for the Midland District there being several of the concession lines which were not finished by Mr Atkins but have since been verry erroniously finished by other surveyors and in certain I Thereon it is likewise ascertaind that Mr Atkins Plan of the Township returned to the Surveyor Generals office is a true and correct representation of the lands therein but there have been surveys made by other surveyors which does not correspond with Mr Atkins plan nor with the principal part of Mr Atkins survey which if allowed to remain permanent will be much to the damage of many of the proprietors of land in the said Township and will occasion much litigation and lawsuits We therefore for the setling peace and amity in the said Township do most humbly pray that your Excellency will see fit to grant an order for the survey of the Township to be regulated and finished agreeable to Mr Atkins plan of the Township. At the same time the undersigned are sorry to state to your Excellency that there are some few individuals who in that case will in some measure suffer in consequence of some part of their improvements being made agreeable to those erroneous surveys but will retain the compliment of land described in their Patents from Government but we do not consider the damage to the Township in that case to but trifling to what it will be if Mr Atkins plan of the Township which is returned to the Surveyor Generals office and upon which the lands in the Township have been described is departed from and your Petitioners as in duty bound will ever Pray ------ |
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[Fold Notes on the petition] The Inhabitants Sophiasburgh Recd from James Wilson Esquire - Referred to the Surveyor General to report by order John Beikie, ??? Ent in Land Book I page 181 The line between the 1st & 2nd concessions South West of Green Point in Sophiasburgh mentioned in the Petition and represented to be in its true place as at y.o.m. on the accompanying plan of Jonathan Greeley, not a licensed surveyor, corresponds with the same line (by which the descriptions have issued) ore the plan returned to this office by the late Deputy Surveyor Alexander Aitkin, but who, it appears surveyed the said line as at K. F. L erroneously on the ground instead of at y.o.m. the true position returned on his plan. About eight of the Grantees in the 2nd concession appear to have settled by the erroneous line many years ago, and would no doubt be materially injured were it removed to its proper place as at y.o.m. unless the Grantees in the 1st concession, by accepting an equal quantity of land in rear of the 2nd concession would surrender the land improved upon by the erroneous line to the Grantees in the 2nd concession. Without some agreement or consent of the parties interested in this behalf I can not suggest to your Excellency the expediency? of any alteration being made in the said line - Suvr. Genl office Thos. Ridout 9. Jany, 1822} Survey General Referred for the Read 6 February 1822 consideration of Let the Parties The Honble Executive interested suggest some Council plan agreeable to all By order of them to settle the Gt House difficulty mentioned in 9th Jany. the Petition G Hillier J. B ? A copy of the within Petition, the endorsement and the above Minute sent to the Surveyor General 2nd March 1822. |
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York 9th January 1822 Sir The endorsed Petition of the inhabs of Sophiasburgh [side notation] *Plan returned to the Surveyor General with a copy of the Petition and Minutes I have the honor to be Sir,
George Hillier Esquire
Your most obedient Thos: Ridout Surveyr General [To] Secretary to his Excellency the Lieut Governor &c &c &c. |
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[copy of an older pertinent letter included in the documents] Copy I have examined the survey made by Mr Jonathan Greeley of part of the first and second concession south west of Green Point and part of the second concession west of Green Point in the Township of Sophiasburgh and find the same to correspond with the original plan of survey returned to this office by the late Mr Alexander Atkins Deputy Surveyor for the Midland District and upon which the lands therein have been described Surveyor Generals Office York 2nd July 1819 - Signed Thomas Ridout Surveyor General To whoom it may concern |
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The 1827 Petition To his Excellency Sir Peregrine Maitland R. C. B Lieutenant Governor of the Province of Upper Canada and Major General commanding his Majesty's forces therein &c &c &c In Council assembled? The Petition of the undersigned Freeholders of the First and Second concessions West of green point in the Township of Sophiasburgh in the County of Prince Edward Humbly shewith That in the original Survey of the said Township the two lines above mentioned (viz) the first and second concessions West of green point were run a little more than half their intended length and left unfinished that since the settlement of the Township a number of lines have been run in the vicinity by different Surveyors some of whom were not legally authorized That under the present existing circumstances your petitioners cannot become satisfied as to the correctness of their lines nor are they from the manner in which the concession lines have been pretended to be run. Satisfied as to these being settled in the concession in which their land ought to lie for according to a late survey of second concession line made without any authority the first concession from Lot No 64 or thereabouts has a length of only twenty five chains and continually growing shorter untill it expires Your Petitioners therefore pray that your Excellency will see cause to direct Publeus T. Elmore Deputy Surveyor to commence at the termination of the said lines and continue them on the same course intended by Mr. Aiken in the original Survey and your Petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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[Fold notes] Petition of Freeholders of the 1st & 2d Con. Tp Sophiasburgh Government House York, 6 March 1827 Referred to the Surveyor General to report herein further information of the Honble Executive Council. By ??? Edw M ??? In absence of Major? Hillier [surveyors report] The true situation and extent of several of the original lines in Sophiasburgh and other irregular Townships in the County of Prince Edward, long lines surveyed, or returned or surveyed by places to this office, having become extremely doubtful, nothing perhaps but a general examination or re-survey would fully point out the same, But as such a measure would be attended with much expense, I foresee now difficulty that could arise by an examination of the lines by a Deputy Surveyor (at the expense of the Petitioners) in that part of Sophiasburgh, mentioned in their Petition, if it be your Excellencys pleasure. Thos. Ridout S. G. Office Surv Genl York 22 March 1827 ??? The Council see no objection to the Survey within prayed for at the expense of the Petitioners - but the right of Individuals are only bound by the original Govt. Survey. JB GM? ??? Order issued 28th. June 1827. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||