The Month That Was – May 1872

Content warning – one article discusses a murder, suicide attempts, and domestic violence.

Canadian Statesman, 2 May 1872, page 2
Mount Vesuvius has again been emitting volumes of fire and lava, and quite a number of lives have been destroyed thereby. Residents in the vicinity who escaped destruction have fled from the Mount, and suffering is widespread.

Whitby Chronicle, 2 May 2, 1872, page 2
Pickering Spring Fair
The Spring Fair of the Agricultural Society of the township of Pickering was held at Brougham on Wednesday last. – The attendance was large, as usual.  The entries were not so numerous as we have seen at former fairs, numbering only 45 altogether.  The quality of the animals, as might be expected, was, however, excellent.  The following is the Prize List:

Draught Stallion – Wm. West, 1st; West & Storey, 2nd; J. Whiteside, 3rd.
Canadian Draught Stallion – Robert Annan, [1st]; B. Stopover, 2nd; J.V. Spears, 3rd.
2-yr old colt, draught – Jas, I. Davidson.
2-yr old colt, Canadian draught – D.S. McFarlane, 1st; R. Fisher, 2nd.
Bull, calved since Jan. ‘71 – John Miller, 1st; John Wilson, 2nd; Thomas Bennet, 3rd.
Bull, calved since Jan. ‘70 – Birrell & Johnston, 1st; J. Thompson, 2nd; Isaac Middleton, 3rd.
Aged bull – John Miller, 1st and 3rd; John Rusnell, 2nd.
Blood Stallion – Wm. Linton, 1st.
Saddle or Carriage Stallion – S. Beattie, 1st; E. Major, 2nd; J. Lehman, 3rd.
General Purpose Stallion – Jas. Paul, 1st; R.S. Wilson, 2nd; J. Hunter [3rd].
2 bushels of Clover Seed – James Whitson, 1st; R. Fuller, 2nd.
2 bushels of Timothy Seed – James Whitson, 1st; D/S/ McFarlane, 2nd. 

Whitby Chronicle, 9 May 1872, page 2
Under Sentence of Death
William Caulfield, cooper, of Oshawa, a man of about 55 years of age, now lies under sentence of death in Whitby gaol, for the murder of his wife. A report of the trail will be found in other columns. This is the first murder trial that has taken place in the County of Ontario since the county was set off, now ninteen (sic) years ago. Caulfield is a native of Ireland; he is the father of a grown up family of four children – two young women, daughters, and two sons. It appears from all the facts that the condemned man and his unfortunate wife led a most unhappy life. Both were given to drink, and violent quarrels frequently took place.  More than once before it is states, the woman attempted to make away with her own life, and the doubt remains, in the face of Caulfield’s protestations of innocence, whether she was not driven to do so in one of her desperate fits of bad temper. A petition is going for the rounds, we understand for signature, praying that the extreme penalty of the law may not be carried out, and there is reason to believe that the parties interesting themselves in the matter will be successful in securing a commutation of the sentence of death.

Ontario Reformer, 10 May 1872, p. 4

Ontario Reformer, 10 May 1872, page 2
Village Council
Council met on Monday evening last.  Present: the Reeve in the chair, and Mesars. Cowan, Luke, and Cameron.  Minutes of last meeting read and approved.

Moved by Mr. Luke, seconded by Mr. Cameron, – That the Court of Revision be held on the 16th inst. Carried.

The following accounts were read, and ordered to be paid: W. Glennie, services as Assessor, $1.10; drain digging, $20.25; Dulury, for shade trees, $11.50; J.O. Guy gravel, $10.60; indigents, $24.

Mr. McGregor inquired if it was the intention of the Council to enforce the “cow” by-law, and was answered in the affirmative. 

Mr. McGregor also asked if it was the intention of the Council to have shade trees planted on Centre Street, south.  He thought this spring would be a good time to do it, before the street was opened up, as it would save the expense of guards for them.  On being asked if he would plant the trees if furnished to him, he said he would, if the Council would send a man to help him.  Mr. Gurley was ordered to have Delury get another load of trees, and have Mr. McGregor supplied. 

Constable Gurley was authorized to procure a person to assist him in his duties, on Saturdays and Sundays. 

Mr. Cowan made a few remarks in reference to the Sewing Machine Factory.

Council adjourned, subject to call of Reeve. 

Ontario Reformer, May 17, 1872, page 4

Ontario Reformer, 17 May 1872, page 2
Musical Re-union
The programme to be presented at the Re-union this evening, in connection with the Oshawa Lodge I.O. of G.T., is an exceedingly good one, and will be well carried out.  The public are cordially invited to attend.  It has been decided to charge the small admission fee of 15 cents for single tickets, and 25 cents for double tickets – the proceeds to be used in purchasing music books, etc., for use in the Temple.  Doors open at 7:30, to commence at 8 o’clock, precisely. 

The instrument to be used on the occasion, is a Taylor, Farley & Co’s organ, the property of Mr. Geo. Liddell, who has kindly lent it for the occasion, and is a first-class instrument. 

Ontario Reformer, 17 May 1872, page 2,
Serious Accident
On Sunday afternoon, May 12th, while the Rev. John McDouagh in company with his niece, Miss Armstrong, and Miss Frances McCormick, were driving from his Kirby appointment to Orono, a very serious accident occurred to them.  The horse became frightened, ran away and threw them all out of the buggy.  Miss Armstrong was but slightly injured; Miss McCormick received a compound fracture on the left leg, just below the ankle, and the right ankle was severely sprained.- The buggy turned completely over on Mr. McDonagh, and his back and one side were badly bruised, though fortunately no bones were broken.  Miss McCormick was removed to her father’s residence and Drs. Fielding and Renwick as once sent for, who carefully set the fractured limb, and at present the patient is doing well.  Mr. McDouagh and his niece were able to go on to their home in Newcastle the same evening. – Statesman

Whitby Chronicle, 30 May 1872, p. 2
Sentence of Death Commuted
The sentence of death passed on Wm. Caulfield for wife murder, has been commuted by His Excellency the Governor General, to imprisonment for life in the Provincial Penitentiary.

Ontario Reformer, May 17, 1872, page 3

Ontario Reformer, 10 May 1872, page 2
Public School Pupils
The duties of pupils attending the Public Schools of Ontario, have been defined by the Council of Public Instruction, as follows:

The Master, or Teacher of every School is by law a public officer, and, as such shall have power, and it shall be his duty to observe and enforce to following rules:

Pupils must come to school clean, and best in their persons and clothes.  They must avoid idleness, profanity, falsehood and deceit, quarreling and fighting, cruelty to dumb animals; be kind and courteous to each other, obedient to their instructors, diligent to their studies, and conform to the rules of their school.

Tardiness on the part of the pupils shall be considered a violation of the rules of the school, and shall subject the delinquentes to such penalty as the nature of the case may require, at the discretion of the master. 

No pupil shall be allowed to depart before the hour appointed for closing school, except on the account of sickness, or some pressing emergency, and then the master or teacher’s consent must first be obtained. 

A pupil absenting himself from school, except on account of sickness, or other urgent reasons satisfactory to the master or teacher, forfeits his standing in the class, and his right to attend the school for the remainder of the quarter. 

Any pupil not appearing at the regular hour of commencing any class of the school, which he may be attending without a written excuse from his parent or guardian, may be denied admittance to such school for the day, or half day, at the discretion of the teacher. 

Every pupil, once admitted to school, and duty registered, shall attend at the commencement of each term, and continue in punctual attendance until its close, or until he is regularly withdrawn by notice in writing to the teacher to that effect; and no pupil violating this rule shall be outitled to continue in such school, or be admitted to any other, until such violation is certified by the parent or guardian to have been necessary and unavoidable, which shall be done personally or in writing. 

Pupils in cities, towns and villages shall be required to attend any particular school which may be designated for them by the Inspector, with the consent of the trustees.  And the inspector alone, under the same authority, shall have the power to make transfers of pupils from one school to another. 

Any pupil absenting himself from examination, or any portion thereof, without permission of the master, shall not thereafter be admitted to any Public School, except by authority of the Inspector, in writing; and the names of such absentees shall be reported by the master immediately to the trustees; and this rule shall be read to the school just before the days of examination, at the close of each quarter. 

Pupils shall be responsible to the master for any misconduct on the school premises, or in going to or returning from school, except when accompanied by their parents or guardians, or some person appointed by them. 

No pupil shall be allowed to remain in the school unless he is furnished with the books and requirements required to be used by him in the school; but in case of a pupil’s being in danger of losing the advantages of the school, by reason of his inability to obtain the necessary books or requisites, through the poverty of his parent or guardian, the trustees have power to procure and supply such pupil with the books and requisites required. 

The foes for books and stationery, &c., as fixed by the trustees in cities and towns, whether monthly or quarterly, shall be payable in advance; and no upil shall have a right to enter or continue in the school until he shall have paid the appointed fee. 

Any property of the school that may be injured or destroyed by pupils, must be made good forthwith by the parents or guardians, under a penalty of the suspension of the delinquent pupil.

No pupil shall be admitted to, or continue in any of the Public Schools who has not been vaccinated, or who has been afflicted with, or has been exposed to, any contagious disease, until all danger from contagion from such pupil, or from the disease or exposure, shall have passed away, as certified in writing by a medical man.

No pupil shall be admitted to any Public School who has been expelled from any school, unless by the written authority of the Inspector. 

Every pupil entitled thereto shall, when he leaves or removed from a school, receive a certificate of good conduct and standing, in the form prescribed, of deserving of it. 

The Month That Was – March 1873

All articles originally appeared in the Ontario Reformer

March 7, 1873, Page 2
R. Wellington has opened a music, book, stationary, and fancy goods store in Wilson’s Block. His store is fitted up neatly, with a new stock, Give him a call. See advertisement.

The remains of the late Mrs. Thos. Gibbs, mother of Messrs. T.N. and W. H. Gibbs, were followed to their last resting place yesterday by a large umber of friends. Mrs. Gibbs died very suddenly, in Toronto, on Monday last, at the advanced age of 79 years. The stores were all closed while the funeral was passing through town.

March 7, 1873, p2

March 14, 1873, Page 2
Wanted
Capitalists who desire a good investment can find it by building dwelling houses in the Village of Oshawa. One of our great wants are such buildings. We know of many who desire to dwell amongst us but who cannot for want of a house to rent, and are obliged to remove elsewhere and when the public works projected are ready to employ hands we know not how to house the number of outsiders that will be required. This is no temporary want, it has been the normal state of this place for years, and it is likely to be felt more severely this year than before, in consequence of our expected inflow of new comers. Let those who lend cash at interest, build, and they will double their income and benefit themselves and their fellow citizens around them. Houses much wanted are the better class cottages. These would rent well and yield a good return to the owner. Another very much in demand are such as would rent for $6 to $8 per month. Nice little cottages in rows, neatly got up, and warm, would command such rents readily. To put them up in this form, would enable the builder to economise his material and labor, and obtain a better return for his investment. Let some one step into this gap.

More Factories for Oshawa
We have good authority for stating that a silver plating maunfactory is about to be established in this Village, provided a suitable site and arrangements can be made to bring it here. The paid up capital already subscribed is about $25,000, and it is expected the number of hands it will employ will not be less than thirty to begin with.

We believe the Oshawa Stove Manufacturing Company have determined to build at once, with a view to turn out stoves this fall, and that the number of hands employed will not be less than from 30 to 40. Patterns have already been selected, and when the necessary arrangements shall have been finally completed this establishment may be looked upon as secured to the Village. These signs look like future prosperity and enlargement to our enterprise municipality. These are the kind of works that benefit every inhabitant of the place. They give employment to the artisan, the women and children, they bring permanent customers to the shopkeeper, and add to the value of the property of every man who holds a foot of land in the corporation and around it. May they flourish. 

March 14, 1873 p3

March 21, 1873, Page 2
The Oshawa St. Patrick’s Benevolent Society, with their friends to the number of about 180, went to Toronto on Monday last to join with their Toronto brethren in celebrating Ireland’s day, the 17^th of March. The Society, before leaving here, marched through town, headed by their Brass Band, playing lively airs, in good style, and presenting a very neat appearance. They had a good time in Toronto, and returned in the evening, much pleased with their visit.

March 21, 1873, Page 2
House and Lot for Sale
Opposite Oshawa Cabinet Factory

The house contains twelve rooms, and a good stone cellar. Will accommodate four small families. For forms, etc., apply to Capt. George Farewell, or to H. McGee

March 21, 1873, p3

March 28, 1873, Page 2
The Female Seminary Bonus
The people of Oshawa are favoured at present by any number of bonus seekers, varying in both usefulness and character. The claimant pressing just at present is one Rev. Mr. Demill. His request is a very modest one truly! Oshawa people are asked to first vote him $3000 to buy the grounds for a female seminary; they are next asked to put their hands into their pockets and hand over money to build the institution – after which, by paying the sum of $100 per term, they will be permitted to send their daughters to the Demill seminary for instructions in dish and clothes washing! Ah! yes, mending, darning, etc. etc., included. At present, the Village has a school debt of about $5000 hanging over it, and before paying this off, it is asked to add $3000 more. Let every voter consider this before giving his vote on Saturday. Its advocate say it is designed in addition to the above, to teach all the different branches comprising a good English education, and music to boot. All the above, except the domestic and musical portion of the program are taught at present at are public and high schools. The people of Oshawa in their present provision, for secular education are, therefore, not badly situated. Their daughters, as well as their sons, are afforded under their present advantages a good English education without any additional outlay. Why then incurred heavy expense and high taxes to provide that which is already possessed?…

The scheme is absurd in all its bearings; and those pressing for its recognition are only raising a stumbling block to other matters much more feasible and of far greater moment.

All having freehold property within the corporation, or leaseholds 20 years yet to run are entitled to vote, and we trust to see a good majority against it.

March 28, 1873, p3

Pvt. Gordon Dickie and the Memorial Museum Passchendaele

By Jennifer Weymark, Archivist

Recently we received a letter from the Memorial Museum Passchendaele in Belgium.  The museum was looking for any additional information we may have in our holdings on a soldier whose sacrifice they were memorializing as part of their Names In The Landscape project.

This project is working to tell the stories of the almost 7000 Canadians who died in Flanders during the First World War. The Museum has been working to identify the wartime burial locations of those Canadians who were commemorated on the Menin Gate and share this information with surviving relatives, along with the greater public.

Menin Gate; By Marc Ryckaert – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=72596911

The initial request was for our assistance in finding the modern address that matched the historic address as listed on the attestation forms for a Pvt. Gordon Dickie. Given that the address they were looking for was a P.O. Box, I was concerned that I may not be able to assist in any way. The project was also looking for anything further we may have on Pvt. Dickie, anything to help better understand this young man who lost his life so long ago.

The P.O. Box led nowhere, so I went to Library and Archives Canada’s (LAC) website to find the attestation record and file on Pvt. Dickie to gather further information and see how we could help. The files held by LAC turned out to be something I had never come across before. It turns out that Pvt. Dickie not only had more than one attestation papers, he actually had two regimental numbers associated with his name.

After determining that this was not a case of two men with the same name, I began to dig further into the tale of Pvt. Dickie and found a story of a very determined young man whose perseverance was not rewarded.

Gordon Dickie was born on November 2, 1898 in Greenrock, Scotland to parents Thomas and Anne Dickie. The passenger lists for Quebec show members of the family arriving there from Scotland in July 1907. By 1911 the family had made their way to Welland, Ontario and were documented in the Canadian census for that year.

The first of his three attestation papers dated on January 3, 1916.  That document states that he lived at 65 King Street West, in Oshawa.  He is listed as being a machinist with no previous military experience. This first form is officially signed on May 15, 1916, and Dickie had enlisted with the local regiment, the 116^th Battalion. At this point, he has been assigned Regimental #745971.

Dickie began training at Camp Niagara with the 116^th when he was discharged June 28, 1916 for being medically unfit.  According to the Medical History forms included in his file, he was deemed unfit due to being “under military standard of chest measurement.” The document further notes that Dickie will “overcome the disability in due course by normal growth.” He was only 17 and had not yet experienced that growth spurt that would allow him to serve. By July 5, 1916 Dickie was officially discharged and no longer serving with the 116^th.

This discharge did not dissuade Dickie, and he promptly reenlisted.  His second attestation paper is dated July 12, 1916, just one week after being discharged for being medically unfit. This form once again lists his home address as Oshawa, his mother as his next of kin, and that he had worked as a machinist.  This new form shows both Regimental numbers associated with Dickie.  It seems he was assigned a new number before it was determined that he had already enlisted.  This new form also notes Dickie’s six months of service with the 116^th Battalion.

Dickie headed up to Camp Borden to enlist this time, and he was placed with the 176^th Overseas Battalion the day he signed the forms.  His time with the 176^th was even shorter than the six months he spent with the 116^th. By August 16, 1916 he was once again deemed medically unfit due to the size of his chest, as well as being underweight at 110lbs, and he was discharged on August 22.

The third and final attestation paper was signed at Camp Borden on October 6, 1916.  This attestation paper has his second Regimental #850943 associated with it and shows a change in address. Both Dickie and his mother are now listed as living 22 Carleton Street in Toronto. Once again, he enlisted with the 176^th O.S. Battalion.

Apparently, Dickie had finally grown enough to be deemed medically fit, and he left Halifax on April 28, 1917 on route to Liverpool. He arrived in England on May 7, 1917, and by September he was in France with the 2^nd Battalion.

Pvt. Gordon Dickie was Killed In Action on November 6, 1917 during the Battle of Passchendaele.

The grave for Dickie had been unknown, and so he was memorialized on the Menin Gate, along with so many other Canadian soldiers. The work of the Memorial Museum has determined that Dickie was buried near Goudberg, Passchendaele, and his updated information has become part of the NamesIn The Landscape project. For more information on the Museum and their project, check out their website.

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Another Oshawa name memorialized on the Menin Gate is that of Pvt. William Garrow. Learn about his story by visiting our online exhibit, Letters from the Trenches.

Another solider with two regimental number is Oshawa’s Charles Bracey, buried in Union Cemetery.

The Month That Was – February 1863

All articles originally appeared in the Oshawa Vindicator
Content Warning: one article discusses a suicide

February 4, 1863
Page 2
Another Suicide

…It is our most painful task to record the death of Thos. Bartlett, Esq., by his own hands, on Monday last, between the hours of eight and nine o’clock in the morning. The deceased was a brother of the late Wm. Bartlett, Esq., who hung himself… on the 4^th September last, and lived on the opposite side of the road, only a few rods distant from the last residence of the former. Soon after his brother’s sad end, the subject of the present notice was taken ill, his difficulty being a nervous affection which prevented his obtaining sleep, the consequence of which was that he began to fail in flesh. As a remedy he resorted to opium, of which he took repeated and large doses with a view only of procuring sleep as was then supposed, but when it took effect it acted powerfully as an emetic, rather than as a narcotic, otherwise the quantity would most probably have proved fatal. For some time afterwards he lay in a very critical condition…

4 Feb 1863, page 4

February 11, 1863
Page 2

The Emancipation Proclamation to be Photographed – Benjamin J Lossing has obtained permission from the president to take a photograph of the Emancipation Proclamation, which is entirely in Mr. Lincoln’s handwriting. The photograph is to form one of the illustrations in Mr. Lossing’s historical work.

Oshawa Central School
At the last meeting of the Board of School Trustees, applications were received from twelve different young ladies willing to accept one or the other of the two situations open in the staff of teachers of the Central School. Only one of them – a daughter of the Rev. Mr. Cantlon – had ever taught before, and after due consideration of the claims of others, she received the appointment as teacher of the second grade at a salary of $240 per annum. A daughter of Mr. Hurd, of Raglan, was appointed teacher of the first grade, at a salary of $150 per annum. Miss Stone was, at the same time, promoted to the third grade, without increase of salary. The Central School is now better provided with teachers than it has ever been, having two male and three female teachers. Their united salaries amount to $1550. The obnoxious “monitor system” has been dismissed from the school, and teachers are paid for their services and expected to work for the interest and benefit of the school accordingly. The attendance of pupils is very large, notwithstanding the prevalence of disease, giving the five teachers plenty to do, to attend to their proper instruction.

Skirt Lifters – This new and useful invention is becoming very popular with the ladies, and promises to form nearly as important a branch of manufacture ad trade as the hoop skirt business has become. It will be seen on reference to our advertising columns that the original article is to be had at al of our Dry Goods Stores. We see by the Toronto papers that another article designed to serve the same purpose is in the market. It is a Canadian invention called the Patent Canadian Skirt Lifter.

11 Feb 1863, page 3

11 Feb 1863, page 3

February 18, 1863
Page 2
Oshawa Wheat Market

Last week was one of excellent sleighing and persons having wheat to dispose of, took advantage of the good travelling to pour in the golden grain and get, in return for it, the golden coin or the equally prized green colored Ontario Bank note. At Warren’s Mill, from half a dozen to twenty loads of grain were to be seen every day, standing about, wait8ing for their turn at the door to unload, and a similar scene might be witness at that of Messrs. Gibbs & Bros., in South Oshawa. The amount of wheat purchased by the latter firm, and delivered, during the week, was 22,834 bushels; 1[  ],830 were delivered on the last 3 days of the week. The amount purchased by John Warren, Esq., and delivered at his mill, was something over 18,000 bushels during the week.

In another column we give both the Oshawa and Toronto market prices.

Page 3
Oshawa Markets
Fall Wheat: 90  95
Spring Wheat:  80  85
*note, this represents a price range per bushel

18 Feb 1863, page 3

February 25, 1863
Page 2

An ice-bridge, says the St. Catharine’s Journal, has formed at the junction of the Niagara River with Lake Ontario, for the third time in the history of Canada. The cause is the prevalence of south winds for a few days and then a sudden change to the north, the first forcing the ice down the upper lakes into the river, which is prevented by the north winds from getting into Lake Ontario.

Alarm of Fire – On Saturday evening last an alarm was rung out on the fire-bell, and many ran to and fro, looking for the fire. It was at last discovered, by some, in an unoccupied house belonging to Mr. L. Butterfield, on Water Street, opposite Messrs. Warren & Co.’s Tannery. A woman was engaged in cleaning out the house, and the partitions caught fire from an improperly put up stove pipe. It was soon extinguished, before doing much damage.

Page 3
Scarcely a day (says an English paper) passes on which the journals do not record deaths from wearing Crinoline. A young woman at Dalston, for instance, was making a pudding at a table five feet from the fire, when a draught from an open window blew her extended dress into the grate, and not long afterwards she was dead. Verdict of the jury, “Died from fire while wearing crinoline.”

25 Feb 1863, page 3

The Month That Was – January 1862

All articles originally appeared in the Oshawa Vindicator

January 1, 1862
Page 2
Death of Prince Albert

By the arrival of the Persia, on Monday of last week, we have the painful news of the sudden death of the husband of our beloved Queen. The telegraph announced the solemn and [startling] fact so very coolly that, coming as it did without any previous warning, or word as to his sickness, it scarcely obtained credit from the public. The following is the dispatch referred to: —

“His Royal Highness, Prince Albert, expired at noon of Sunday the 15^th inst., of gastric fever. His illness was not considered dangerous until Friday.”…

The Queen and the Royal Family surrounded the death-bed of the Prince.

Page 3
Dog Lost

Lost in Oshawa on the 3^rd instant, a White Bulldog with both ears cropped – the right one a little shorter than the left. He has a grey spot on his back and one on his hind parts, and a long tail. Any person returning the same to the undersigned will be liberally rewarded for their trouble. F. Prevost, Tonner. Oshawa, Dec 24^th, 1861.

January 1, 1862, page 3

January 8, 1862
Page 2
Militia Appointments

The Hon. John A. Macdonald has been charged by His Excellency with the supervision of matters connected with the Militia of the Province, under the deisgnatin of Minister of Militia affairs.

His excellency has likewise been pleased to appoint Lt.-Colonel John Richard Nash, late of Her Majesty;’s 15^th Regiment, to be Deputy Adjutant General of Militia for Upper Canada.

Oshawa Municipal Election

On Monday morning last, at 10 o’clock, the electors assembled in the courthouse for the purpose of nominating candidates for the council for 1862. The returning officer, Mr. Wm. E Mark, having taken his position, called for nominations, and in the course of 15 or 20 minutes, no less than 25 gentlemen were proposed by their friends. After the nominations were closed, the returning officer called for a show of hands, for each of the gentleman nominated; with the following results:

SB Fairbanks, 53. Thos. Eck and DF Burk, each 51. TN Gibbs, 49. D. Spaulding, 46. E. Dunn, 42. GH Grierson, 41. WW Brown, 37. J Hislop and G Wallace, 26. E Carswell, 24. John Cade, 2. Jas. Chase and Robert Graham, 20. DH Merritt, 18. A Hackett and J Carmichael, 16. RT Manuel, 15. W Dickie, 14. A Thompson, 13. Dr. McGill, 12. J. Gilchrist, 10. &c. &c.

According to the show of hands, Messrs., Fairbanks, Eck, Burk, Gibbs and Spaulding were, for the first time being, declared duly elected.

The various gentleman put in nomination, were then called upon for speeches…

The members of the Oshawa Council for 1864 are, therefore:

SB Fairbanks, Thomas Eck, DF Burk, WW Brown, Edward Dunne.

It is understood, as a matter of course, that Mr. Fairbanks will remain in the Reeve’s chair another year.

East Whitby Election

Mr. Fowke being about to remove to Oshawa, did not present himself for reelection in the Township. The other four members accepted nominations, and two new men were brought out, Mr. James O Guy, and Robert Smith – the latter, a brother of Mr. John Smith, who has been in the council ever since the division of the Township. Mr. Guy appears to be the favorite candidate, and led the poll from the commencement, closely followed by Messrs., Rob’t Smith, John Smith, and Wm Bartlett, while a close contest was, for some time, kept up between the respective friends of Messrs. Ratcliff and Doolittle. Mr. Ratcliff, however, always kept the lead, being 30 ahead at the close of the first day. At the close of the poll on Tuesday, the following gentleman were declared duly elected: —

James O. Guy, Robert Smith, Wm. Bartless, John Smith, John Ratcliff.

Page 3
$50 Reward

Whereas on the morning of the 17^th day of August, 1861, there was laid at the door of William Bartless, on Lot No. 15 in the 1^st concession of East Whitby, a female infant; and on the 27^th of the same month, at the doors of Abram Skinner on Lot No. 3 in the 4^th concession of East Whitby, a male infant; — A reward of $50 (fifty dollars) will be paid by the Corporation of East Whitby to any person who will prosecute to conviction the principal, or agent, in either of the above cases of child desertion.

Given under my hand at East Whitby aforesaid, on the 30^th day of December, 1861. John Ratcliff, Town Reeve.

January 8, 1862, page 3

January 22, 1862
Page 2
Sleighing and Business

Until about a week ago, everybody was talking of the lack of snow, and the consequent dullness of the season, but now we have plenty of snow, splendid sleighing, and business is as brisk as the day is long. Our streets are, at times, almost blockaded with teams standing in front of stores, and passing and repassing – reminding a person of similar scenes in metropolitan streets. Enormous loads of cordwood, wheat, flour and other commodities pass along Simcoe Street every few minutes. As we write, four or five teams have passed along, each drawing the enormous load of two cords of wood on a single sleigh, for which the owners get $5.50 cash down, and hurry home to bring in another load in the afternoon before the price falls, which it mist soon do at the rate wood is coming in…

Page 3

Free Schools – We learn that the ratepayers in the School Section in Saxon’s Settlement, Darlington, have this year adopted the free school principle for the first time, without any opposition. –In the section in East Whitby, at Maxwell’s Corners, we learn that the Free School principle has been adopted this year, for the second time, by a majority of two to one, though carrid by a majority of only two or three, last year.

Stray Cattle

Three stray cattle came into the premises about the 1^st of December, which may be described as follows: – One white Steer, with a few red spots; one red muley; and one red heifer with some white hairs. All, apparently, coming two years old in the spring. The owners are requested to prove property, pay damages and take them away. Thos. & Phin. Henry, Port Oshawa, January 16, 1862.

January 22, 1862, page 3

January 29 1862
Page 2
Selling Liquor Without License

On Saturday last the keepers of the British American and the Wellington houses, Messrs. RT Manuel and N Dyer, were again summoned before the Reeve on the charge of selling Intoxicating Liquors without license – the former for the third time, and the latter for the second. The charge being satisfactorily proven, the highest fine the law permits – twenty dollars – was imposed upon each. Mr. Manuel again gave notice of his intention to appeal to the Assizes, a la Spaulding. This makes the second fine of twenty dollars which he has appealed; – with what object, except to put off the date of payment, it is difficult to perceive, for it is not very likely that the fines have been illegally imposed.

January 29, 1862, page 4