Early Life of David Gibson, First City Surveyor for Toronto by S
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Cover Story Early Life of David Gibson, First City Surveyor for Toronto by S. Eldon Gibson, O.L.S. (Great Grandson) David Gibson was born March 9th, Belmont. During that year he entered that out by steamboat for Montreal Nov. 24th, 1804 in the Parish of Glammis, Forfar he was calculating, making hay, digging took the stage from Montreal for Prescot shire, Scotland, the only child of James potatoes, surveying — sometimes mixing arriving at Kingston on Saturday, Novem Gibson, Farmer, and his wife, Margaret. surveying and haying on the same day. So ber 26th, 1825, where he found he could On May 15th, 1811 the young lad’s mother at the age of sixteen he was already busy not get passage by water to York. died, leaving the father with a seven year working at his future profession in Scotland. At 4 p.m. the same day he left Kingston old boy to bring up, as all James’ sisters Every Sunday he notes “Went to Church and travelled 8 miles. Then the next day were married. The parents of James were at Glammis.” got a ride in a Dutchman’s waggon and still living, but he tells us in a letter dated Off to Canada thus by various means — mostly walking September 8th, 1811 to a cousin Patrick Having completed his apprenticeship, — he arrived in Markham on Saturday, Milne in New York, that while they were David had the contract returned to him by December 3rd at 3 o’clock, where his pretty healthy, they were failing. Wm. Blackadder with the statement that cousins and future wife lived. In this letter he is concerned with the David Gibson had satisfactorily completed He rested for a few days and then on prospect of war breaking out between the his term and dated it June 1824. Then December 15th, 1825 presented his letters two countries and that it will be a serious with letters of recommendation from Mr. of introduction and a petition for a com evil. Also their correspondence will cease. Blackadder, his Minister and the Factor of mission as a provincial surveyor. After He also mentions that he is a Corporal in the Estate of The Earl of Strathmore, he spending a few days being examined by a a regiment of twelve hundred men in the went to Dundee, accompanied by friends Mr. Chewitt for the Surveyor General, he district of Glammis, and that the whole to see him off. On March 27th, 1825, he returned to Markham on December 28th country is alike armed. He wrote, “Trade boarded the Brig, Gratitude for passage to with his commission as a surveyor for is very bad, but provisions is not that high Quebec. They set sail Monday morning Upper Canada. which makes us all to toil on.” March 28th with the morning tide. The This was the founding of the family firm Later James Gibson again married and weather was calm. in Canada — all this before he was 22 provided David with three half brothers After almost two months on shipboard, years old. Early in January, according to and a sister. he landed at Quebec Wednesday, May 25th, his diary, he was out making surveys almost Apprenticeship 1825. At 11 a.m. he delivered some letters every day. According to the story that has come sent in his care, called on a Lt. Col. Surveyor of Highways down in the family, a Wm. Blackadder, Bouchette and showed him the letters of April 6th, 1826 — “Got my notification land surveyor, was surveying one day near recommendation. The next day he called and sworn in as a Surveyor of Highways James Gibson’s farm and asked if he could at the Surveyor General’s office and for the southern division of the County of have the young son to help him. After “Shewed him a few specimens of my York.” The next two years were spent the survey was finished, Mr. Blackadder workmanship, which pleased him very working at his profession. told James that the boy was a bright lad much.” Christmas Day, 1827 he went to Mark and asked if he would allow David to be Sunday, May 29th he attended the Scotch ham to the home of his Uncle Alex. Milne apprenticed to him as a student surveyor Church in Quebec and makes a note that and told his Aunt Jean, who was a sister for a period of five years from Whitsunday the text was 1st verse, 3rd chapter of of his father, “That Elizabeth and me had 1819. It may be of interest to present Hebrews. made up our mind to get married if she students to learn some of the conditions in Monday he started work and Tuesday had no objection. She granted it.” the contract: was copying a plan. January 25th, 1828, politics entered the He was not to absent himself without He looked for lodgings and found one picture. He notes: “Went to Markham, was liberty or he would at the end of his at these terms: “2 dollars per month to appointed secretary of a meeting of the term have to serve an additional two days have a room, bed, victuals cooked and inhabitants to elect or nominate a candidate extra for each day absent, or pay 5 clothes washed.” On June 9th he started to support the ensuing election.” shilling sterling for each day he may to work for a Mr. William Ware, a Land January 29th, 1828. “Attended a meeting be so absent. Mr. Blackadder obliges Surveyor, and was occupied for the next at John Montgomery’s Tavern.” himself “to support his said apprentice few months. He notes in his diary: “Work Married Life in Board and Lodgings in a decent way ing, reading and learning the French On Saturday, March 1st, 1828, he went and conform to his station in the service language.” to York with his Uncle William and A. of his master, but no washing to be Move to Upper Canada Milne and got a license to be married to afforded except when the apprentice is He received a letter from a friend in Eliza Milne. On Tuesday at about 5 p.m. employed in the service of his master the Upper Province soliciting him to go up he was wedded to Eliza Milne and had a at a distance from Glammis in which to York as there would be employment. merry evening. He notes that day in his event the Master is to defray the expense On October 12th, 1825 he waited on the diary, “Us both worth about £150.” There of such washing as the apprentice may Governor, The Earl of Dalhousie and was was no honeymoon and he was back at have occasion for during his stay from informed that no situation was vacant at work the next morning drawing a plan. home.” present. So with letters of recommendation During the period from the time of his David kept a diary and the earliest date from the Governor to Sir Peregrine Mait marriage, his daily life was surveying and recorded is March 28th, 1820, Estate of land and the Rev. Bishop Strachan, he set (continued on page 7) David Gibson political meetings and on July 30th his north of the property. This clock is still diary tells us “There was a meeting held in the family. (continued from page 5) by the tories this afternoon at 3 o’clock. Escape to U.S.A. attending to the building of his house which Where the speakers stood a platform gave David escaped and was hidden by friends they moved into on Sunday, March 1st, way and killed three or four and wounded for some time in Scarborough and finally 1829. It was built at the rear of Lot 5 in a number.” went by schooner from there to Rochester, the second Concession east of Yonge Street The week of October 6th, 1834 was a N.Y., and thence to Lockport, N.Y. There in York Township where Edward’s garden political one ending with David Gibson he obtained an appointment as an engineer now is. On March 27, 1829, their first defeating Thomas Hogg two to one and on the widening of the Erie Canal. His child was born and named Elizabeth. thus was elected to the Upper Canada family joined him later. August 25th, 1828, “Called at the Canada Legislature. He was able to rent his farm in Willow Company’s office and was informed to call dale and his wife returned spring and fall On June 27th, 1836 he again appeared at the Surveyor General’s office and get to manage the renting of it. He wrote his as the candidate for the first riding and instructions for the survey of the Township father in 1840 that he did not think it July 2nd was declared duly elected. of Goderich in Huron tract. From Septem would be confiscated or steps would have November 8th he took his seat in the ber 1828 through to January 1829 he was been taken before then. Meanwhile he House of Assembly. During the balance of surveying the Township of Goderich purchased a brick house in Lockport and the year, when he was not in the House working right through Christmas Day. He was looking for a farm in case he would of Assembly, he was surveying. could not spend his first Christmas married be out of employment. However, it looked with his bride. On January 10th, 1837, Peter Silas as if he would have three or four years Gibson was born, who also became a Land On October 15th, 1829 for £400, David work ahead on the Erie project.