Minute Book of the Town of Newark- 1793 to 1842

Description

Sponsors

This item is a part of the 1812 History digitization project. This project was made possible with the support of the Department of Canadian Heritage through the Canadian Culture Online Strategy.

Media Type

Text

Item Type

Books

Description

This interesting artefact records the actions of the civic leaders of the fledgling community of Newark from 1793 to 1842. The first meeting was held on August 17, 1793 by virtue of an Act of the Legislature of Upper Canada. Constable William Mollynox presided and Ralfe Clench (later Colonel of the 1st Regiment of the Lincoln Militia during the War of 1812) was the clerk.
At this, and subsequent meetings, the town officers were appointed: clerk, assessors, collectors, town and church wardens, pound keepers, fence viewers and overseers of highways. The meetings were held yearly, in March, and were presided over by the constable. The bylaws passed at the first meeting, and reaffirmed at the following meetings, were few: "Hogs cannot be allowed to run at large" or “the height of fences should be five feet to be lawful." In 1808, carriage drivers were directed to "give half the road and keep to the right hand side". However, there is no record of meetings being held from 1814 to 1816. Initially the town was called Newark but by 1800 the town is referred to as Niagara. A Board of Commissioners devised a division of labour for Township duties. Men 21 years and up had to give two days work per year. The last two pages also contain a register of marks used by farmers to identify their hogs and cattle. These lists of officers, labourers and farmers provide a valuable resource for researchers. The Minute Book not only shows the determination of the early 'inhabitant electors' to govern themselves but also gives us a deeper understanding of their way of life.

Notes

So far only the pages relevant to the War of 1812 have been digitized.

Subject(s)

Town meetings
War of 1812
War of 1812- Domestic Life
Newark
Clench, Ralfe., Col.

Local identifier

994.5.466

Language of Item

English

Geographic Coverage

Niagara-on-the-Lake

Ontario, Canada

Latitude: 43.25012 Longitude: -79.06627

Copyright Statement

Protected by copyright: Uses other than research or private study require the permission of the rightsholder(s). Responsibility for obtaining permissions and for any use rests exclusively with the user.

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