History of the settlement of Upper Canada (Ontario,): with special reference to the Bay QuintéCanniff, William
History
History of the settlement of Upper Canada (Ontario,): with special reference to the Bay Quinté
Canniff, William
Ontario -- History; Quinte, Bay of (Ont.)
Among the early and influential settlers upon the bay, was John
Ferguson. It has been our good fortune to come into possession of a good
many public and private letters penned by his hand, and invaluable
information has thus been obtained. The following letter will inform the
reader of the part he took in the service during the war. It is
addressed to Mr. Augustus Jones.
KINGSTON, 22nd July, 1792.
DEAR SIR.—
Inclosed is my old application for the land on the carrying place,
which I send agreeable to your desire. I need not attempt to explain
it better, as you know so well what I want. I wish, if consistent,
that land, 200 acres, Mrs. Ferguson is entitled to, might be joined
to it. if I cannot get a grant of the carrying place, will you be so
good as to let me know what terms it may be had on. I have it in my
power to settle the place immediately, had I any security for it. I
am certain Mr. Hamilton will interest himself for me, but I am loth
to apply to him at present, as in all probability he has too much
business to think of besides. Should it be asked how and where I
served, I will mention the particulars. The 24th June, 1774, I was
appointed, and acted as barrack-master until 24th March, 1778, when
I was ordered to Carleton Island, being also commissary at the post.
Thirteenth April, 1782, I was appointed barrack-master of Ontario,
where I remained until ordered to Cataraqui in September, 1783, and
acted as barrack-master for both posts, until 24th June, 1785, when
I was obliged to relinquish it, having more business in the
commissary’s department than I could well manage, with the other
appointment, occasioned by the increase of loyalists settling in
this neighborhood. Twenty-fifth February, 1778, my father then being
commissary of Oswegotchie, delivered the stores to me, as he was
unable to do the duty himself. He died 13th March, following, when I
was appointed his successor.
The 13th April, I was ordered to Carleton Island to assist Mr.
McLean in the transport business. In November, 1778, I was again
sent to Oswegotchie, where I remained commissary of the post until
24th June, 1782, when I was sent to Ontario to take charge there,
from thence I was sent to this place, 24th September, 1783, where I
remained until a reformation took place in the commissary
department, and I was on the 24th June, 1787, served like a great
many others, sent about my business without any provision, after
having spent my best days in His Majesty’s service.
You see I was eleven years barrack-master, and nine years a
commissary, I was also six years in the Commissary General’s office
at Montreal (a clerk,) during which time my father was permitted to
do my duty as barrack-master. I will write you again by next
opportunity.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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