UPPER CANADA SKETCHES INCIDENTS IN THE EARLY TIMES OF THE PROVINCE 'Breathes there the man with soul so dead, Who never to himself hath said, " This is my own, my native land ! Ducit Amor Patriae. WILLIAM RENWICK RIDDELL, LL.D., F.R.H. SOC., ETC. TORONTO : THE CARSWELL COMPANY, LIMITED 1922 LIBR4*F SEP 5 1972 *&? OF TORO^ DEDICATION To the Memory of CHARLES CANNIFF JAMES, C.M.G., M.A., LL.D., F.R.S. CAN., ETC., Through whose influence and example I was led to the study of the story of OLD UPPER CANADA, These sketches are dedicated. He died at St. Catharines, Ontario, June 23, 1916, then as ever wholly devoted to his Country. Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori. Pro patria sit dulce mori, atque decorum: Vivere pro patria dulcius esse puto. ERRATA P. 11. 1. 4, for (1804) 44 Goo. Ill, read (1803) 43 Geo. III. 21, last line, for (1915) 55 Geo. Ill, read (1815) 55 Geo. III. 41. 1. 23, for 2 Geo. IV, read 11 Geo. IV. 49, last line, for ly read by. 79, 1. 3 from bottom, for Gore (Niagara) read Niagara. 90, 1. 30, for 45 \V. & M. read 4, 5 W. & M. 91, 1.24, for (1745) read (1795). 106, 1. 27, for c. 85, read c. 83. PREFACE The Sketches in this little volume were (with some others) published in the CANADIAN LAW TIMES for 1920 and 1921. They were written in the hope of attracting the attention of the readers of that Journal and the legal profession generally to the romantic and interesting early history of our Province to my mind as romantic and interesting as the early history of any land, and having the enormous advantage over most in that it is veridical and evidenced by existing contemporary documents. The treasures of the official Archives at Ottawa and Toronto are all too little known. It is, however, a pleasure to observe that they are being more and more resorted to. I have, whenever possible, given definite refer- ences to the authority for my statements. I am strongly of the opinion that a historian or biographer owes to his readers the duty not only of perfect accuracy, but also of furnishing such evidence of accuracy as may bfc available. It is too much to hope that there are no mistakes in these Sketches; I can, however, give an assurance that every effort has been made to avoid error. A very large proportion of the matter is of legal interest, but I venture to think and to hope that others than lawyers will find pleasure in perusing it. WILLIAM EENWICK RIDDELL. Osgoode Hall, Toronto, April, 1922. TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Extra-Territorial Criminal Jurisdiction in British Canada 1 II. When the Court of King's Bench Broke the Law. 13 III. The Solicitor-General Tried for Murder 24 IV. A Criminal Circuit in Upper Canada a Century Ago 33 V. When the Courts of K. B. and Chancery Struggled for Supremacy 50 VI. Mr. Justice Thorpe 57 VII. The Sad Tale of an Indian Wife 15 VIII. The Information ex officio in Upper Canada 85 IX. William Osgoode, First Chief Justice, U. C 101 X. Robert Isaac Dey Gray, First Solicitor-General, U.C. 127 XI. Early Proposals for Court of Chancery, U. C 146 INDEX The following contractions are employed: U.C., Upper Canada; L.C., Lower Canada ; Canada Can., ; Dom., Dominion of Canada ; Imp., Imperial ; Member Memb., ; Sp. Speaker ; J., Judge or Justice ; C.J., Chief Justice ; Council Leg. Col., Legislative or Councillor ; Ex. Col., Executive Council or Councillor : Leg. Assy., Legislative Assembly ; K.B., King's Bench ; Common Pleas C.P., ; Chy., Chancery ; Ct, Court : Inf. ex off., under Information ex officio ; L.S., Law Society of Upper Canada : Col., Counsel ; for A.-G., Attorney-General Upper Canada ; S.-G., Solicitor-General for Canada Upper ; Lt.-Gov., Lieutenant-Goveruor ; Vice-Chancellor ; V.C., Ont., Ontario ; Que., Quebec. A - PAGE Allcock, Henry, J.K.B 147 advises Lt.-Gov. Hunter 61, 147, 154 suggests Ct. Chy 51, 147, 153 becomes C.J., U.C 61, 153, 155 iMemb.' Leg. Assy 71 Sp. Leg. Col 71 C.J.L.C 67 Allen, Isaac, murdered at Niagara, (1787) 3, 8 ? Allen, ( ) , prosecuted, Inf. ex off 91 " " Ancaster, Bloody Assize at, (1814) 7.~> Arabaska River, North Western Country, murder of John Ross at. G Armoui. John Douglas, C.J., Q.B 11 Attorney. (See Solicitor.) B. ' Baby, James, Ex. Col., U. C. (1792) 107 Baby, Francis, Ex. Col., at Quebec 3, 5 Backhouse, John, J.P., moved against Inf. ex off 95 Bail. Common, a farce 90 Baker, John, last slave in Canada 129, 14o " " Baker, Simon, drowned in Speedy 129, 145 Baldwin. Robert, prosecutes H. J. Boulton for murder 31 throws off gown 31 Baldwin, William Warren, Dr. Bencher, L.S 16, 17, 21 duel with John Macdonell (1812) 28 Col. for Indians S3, 84 throws off gown 31 Bankruptcy, jurisdiction of Chy. in 51-56 Baptists, celebrating marriage 42 are Calvinists 42 number in U.C. (1820) 43 Barristers, qualification of, (1785) 14 under L. S. Act (1797) 15, 16 Beardsley, Bartholomew Crannell, Bencher, L.S 17 Blake. William Hume, Barrister 53 Chancellor, U.C 54 Boulton, D'Arcy, S.-G 81 prisoner in France 21, 81 A.-G 19, 24, 81 J.K.B 29 Boulton, Henry John, Barrister 2." sketch of life 25 S.-G 29,84 " " opinion on Indian Treaty 84 tried for murder 24 A.-G 27 Second in Jarvis-Ridout Duel 27 C.J. of Newfoundland 31 INDEX. I'Af.K Boundaries of Quebec (Canada) 173. 1774 1 Boyd, Sir John Alexander, Chancellor, Ont 83 Kraut, ('apt. Joseph, lease of Indian lands by 83 I'.n-i kt-iiriilKf. John, Karri-ti-r. Col., II. J. Boulton 26 Brockville. Asnir.es nt. (1820) 36 Burns, I 'avid. Clerk of Crown 88 Burns. Robert Haxton. Chy. Col 52 J.K.B 63 r Burn*. Mnwat and VanKotighnet. Solicitors in < 'liv . .'{ Hull. Tin-Ill. Jan*-, irregular marriage of. (1802) 48,94 Button, ('apt. John, \-\ York Militia, certificate of character given by 49 C. Calvinists. marriage by 40 Baptists are 42 Campbell. (Sir) William. J.K.H 17, 80 sketch of life 24 C.J.U..C 24 opinion on Indians 38 Canada, boundaries of (1763). (1774) 1 Cartxvright. James, called by L.S 19 Cartwright. Richard. Leg. Col. (1702) Ill introduce* marriage Bill (1702) 113 his irregular marriage 113 opposes K. B. Act (1794) 60 CASES CITED. l-'nflliith. Canadian. (1740) Gegge v. Jones. 2 Str. (1810) Doe Huffman v. Roe, 1140 55 Mich. Term 25 (1S18) A.-G. v. Brown. 1 (1S23) Williams v. Crosby, Swann. 2Ti 22 Tay. 16 26 (1821) R. v. Austen, 9 Price (1823) R. v. Phelps. Tay. 47. 84 142 22 (1827) Moran v. Maloy, Tay. ( 1S40) Paddock v. Forrester, 563 26 1 M. & W. 583 22 (1831 ) R. v. Ives. Dra. 453. 100 (1M4 II. v. Mills. 10 Cl. & (1*3S) R. v. Mainwaring. 5 F. 534 40 Q. B. O. S. 670 100 (IW.l) Beamish v. Beamish. (1844) In re Merritt, 1 U. C. II. L. C. 274 40 Jur. 283 52.55 (1,<WVT> R. v. Gregory. I* R. (1844) Mittleburger v. Mer- 1 C. C. R. 77 20 ritt. 1 T*. C. R. 330 56 (188TO In re Souna. 1 T. L. (1845) R. v. V. C., D. C., 2 R 507 19 U.C.R. 92 56 (IWH Macleod v. A.-C,. X. (1S-W) Simpson v. Smith 1A 5. W. (1801 ). A. C. 455. 12 & B. IT. C. ffft 154 fl!WH ) F^irl RiimM>ir*< Case. A. (1848) Doe Gillenpie v. Wixon 12 5 Q. B. O. S. 132 75 (1875) R. v. Taylor. 36 T. C. R. 13 100 (1885) In re Sousa. O. R. 10 19 (1887) R. v. Brierly, 14 O. R. r 25 11 (1804> R. v. Plowman, 25 O. R. 656 11 INDEX. 9 PAGE Chambers, Peter Latouche, prosecuted Inf. ex off 97 Chancellor, Lt.-Gov. as, at Common Law 50, 148 sqq. Chancery. (See Court of Chancery.) Charlotteville, Assizes at. (1806) 69 Child. Fras., deponent in charge of murder (1788) 6 Circuits, in Upper 'Canada (1820) 33 Clark, James, Bencher, L. S. (1815) 21 " " Cochran, Mr. Justice, drowned in Speedy 67, 138 Coke, Sir Edward, C. J., England, struggle with Ellesmere 50 Constitution of U. C., Simcoe's view 57 Collins, Francis, Radical editor, has H. J. Boulton prosecuted for murder 30 Conway (or Conoway), iMichael, convicted of larceny, pardoned and banished 36 Cook, convicted, irregular marriage 44, 45 Cornwall, Assizes at, (1820) 37 Courts, struggle for supremacy 50 sqq. Court of Chancery in Quebec 50 in U. C 51,147 Court of Common Pleas in Districts (1788) 108 abolished (1794) 118 Court of King's Bench established (1704) 119 Crandall, Elder Reuben, convicted, irregular marriage, pardoned. .39, 41, 43 Cutan, Joseph, convicted for burglary, sentenced to death 10 D. " " Danforth, Asa. built Danforth Road 135 Dent's Story of U. C. Rebellion, referred to 23,32 De Puisaye settlers 83 Detroit, detained by Britain (1783) 1, 9 governed by British laws 10 surrendered (1796) 10 Dick, Alexander, soldier at Kingston (1820) 35 Dick, Nancy, his wife 35 Dickson, William, Bencher, L. S. (1814) 17, 21 kills Weekes in duel 21, 28 Districts created by Lord Dorchester (1788) 33, 78. 108 Districts in U. C. (1814) 78, 79 Donaldson. John, killed by Indian boy 38 Dorchester. Lord, Governor of Quebec 2, 7, 8, 9 Dorland, Philip, prosecuted under Inf.