43

On September 19, 1783, Captain J. Sherwood left Montreal with eleven men and proceeded up the St. Lawrence to Cataraqui. They explored the banks of the river on their way for some distance back from the shore. They arrived at Carleton Island on September 30th, and at Cataraqui on October 1st. On October 6th he and his party proceeded to the Bay of Quinte, noting the character of the land, the streams and the water falls. They returned to Cataraqui on the 10th and on the 11th explored eastward to the Cadanockui (Gananoque) river. He reported that near the mouth of this river was a water fall of about twenty feet perpendicular, which formed the most convenient place for mills he had ever seen. He returned to Cataraqui on the 13th and made further exploratory surveys of Stoney Creek, which enters the lake twelve miles west of Cataraqui.

The Deputy Surveyor-General, Collins, outlined the following townships in 1783 1*

No. l—Kingston.

No. Z—Ernesttown. No. 3—Fredericksburgh. N0. 4—Adolphustown.

These townships were subdivided during the following year, but all of the concession lines were not run until a later date.

It is not probable that Major Holland remained at Cataraqui during the winter of 1783—1784. He was certainly there in November, 1783, and on August 21, 1784 he states he had only then returned from Lake Ontario, where he had been since the spring. He prepared a statement of expenses going to Cataraqui and returning to Quebec, dated September 9, 1784, which is given herewith.

On 26th June, 1783, Holland reported to General Haldimand that he had been on a trip seeking lands for location of Indians and that he was accompanied by Joseph Brant and Johan. They Visited the Long Sault, Cataraqui and Carleton Island. ‘

Collins reports to General Haldimand on the 12th of August, 1784, that he had then completed the survey and settlement of the fifth township, Marys- hurgh, named after the Duchess of Gloucester (the eleventh child of King

George III). He reports as follows:—

Thc Whole of the disbanded British troops and Germans have drawn their lots, each man has taken the oaths agreeable to the King's instructions, signed the books, received his certificate and is now in possession of his land, with which I am persuaded they will be pleased, as the land in general appears to be of good quality.

In regard to the townships laid out last autumn Collins states :—

The poor people have set themselves down half a dozen together in different parts of the townships, not knowing where to find their lots, except those on the front; nor can it be expected until the several lines between the different concessions be drawn and boundaries fixed, which has not yet been done. I should have set out on that business this day, but find myself too weak, having just got quit of a fever which I have had for some days past. However, I have em— ployed Mr. Tufle and Mr. Henry Holland with each a good party when drawing the lines of the second and third concessions of the first township. (This Henry Holland was Major Holland’s second son).

NOTE_~ln the Report of the Association of Ontario Land Surveyors for 1898 an interesting paper entitled ”Documentary History of the First Surveys in the Province of Ontario” by J. J. Murphy, appears, from which the foregoing letters and extracts have been abstracted.