The Peter Robinson Settlers
In May of 1825, nine ships set sail from Cork Harbour laden with 2024 emigrants, 385 were men, 325 women, 726 male children under 21, and 588 female children under 21, or 710 adults and 1314 children under 21 years of age.
The nine transports sailed in the following order. May 10th, 1825: Fortitude, with 282 settlers, Resolution, with 227 settlers May 13th, 1825: Star, with 214 settlers May 18th, 1825: Elizabeth, with 210 settlers May 11th, 1825: Albion, with 191 settlers, Brunswick, with 343 settlers May 16th, 1825: Amity, with 147 settlers, Regulus, 157 settlers May 25th, 1825: John Barry, with 253 settlers
The group did not arrive at Scott's Plains, the present site of Peterborough, until the fall of 1825. Once at Scott's Plains, the emigrants were given their allotment of 100 acres for each head of family and each male child over eighteen years of age. The families were divided by townships as follows: Emily 142, Ennismore 67, Douro 60, Otonabee 51, Asphodel 36, Smith 34, Ops 7 and Marmora 6, with a few families going relatives from the first Robinson emigration of 1823. |
The area from which the Peter Robinson settlers were chosen was for the most part restricted to the small district from which the emigrants of 1823 had been taken. This district, about 20 miles by 40 miles, is the part of county Cork north of the Blackwater River, containing the towns of Liscarroll, Kanturk, Buttevant, Mallow, Charleville, Doneraile Fermoy, Churchtown, Kilworth, Brigown, and Mitchelstown. About half of the total recommendations and petitions of ditressed families were from this district, and the others were from places as widely separated as western Kerry, northern Clare and Tipperary, and eastern Wicklow and Wexford.
The voyage time was half that of the 1823 emigrants, with 31 days being the longext time at sea. Nevertheless, a number of people died during the ocean crossing, and others died soon after their arrival on dry land. The ships docked at Quebec City at the end of June. The newcomers traveled by steamer to Montreal, then overland to Lachine where bateaux were waiting to transport then to Prescott. From there they proceeded to Kingston. At Kingston, the people stayed in a tent village awaiting the arrival of Robinson, who had returned to Canada by another route.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WHY THE IRISH CAME TO PETERBOROUGH In 1822 the British parliament voted 30,000 pounds to finance a large and experimental emigration plan to transport poor Irish families to Upper Canada. Economic conditions in Ireland played a part in forming the plan. Ireland in the 1820's was an economic "basket case". The value of Irish goods was low, potato crops were meager (the Irish Potato Famine was still decades away however) and population in Ireland was increasing dramatically.
Parliament was also intent on increasing the number of settlers available to defend the border of British North America (Canada) from the United States. Men in these Irish families could help form the basis of a militia if border disputes flared up.
Religious factors also motivated Irish people to venture into the unknown and settle in the "New World". Irish penal laws severely restricted the ability of Irish Roman Catholics to practice their faith, own land or even vote in elections.
Peter Robinson, the son of Loyalists and elder brother of Upper Canada's powerful Attorney General, John Beverley Robinson, was asked to manage this emigration scheme in 1822. At the time he was a politican living in York (later Toronto). He sailed for Britain and began forming a workable emigration plan and recruitment programme. He promoted the scheme in southern Ireland (see portion of broadside, above) and some 50,000 people applied to start new lives in a strange and distant land.
THE FIRST WAVE OF SETTLERS - BATHURST DISTRICT In 1823 the first wave of Irish settlers (568 people) began the long and dangerous journey to Upper Canada with their final destination in eastern Ontario (Lanark, Perth, Ramsay township area). Two sailing ships - the "Hebe" and "Stakesby" carried settlers in cramped and dank quarters - although nothing like the notorious "coffin ships" that carried thousands to North America during the potato famine of the 1840's. The ships landed at Quebec City and the passengers boarded steamships, then barges, then wagons for the final leg. Settlers were given free provisions, tools and farm land!
THE SECOND WAVE - PETERBOROUGH! The second wave of emigration was launched in 1825. This time over 2000 people made a journey similar to the first one. This time however, the final destination was Peterborough, in the Newcastle District (south central Ontario). Nine ships carried the passengers on this trip. Before Robinson started the voyage he travelled to the Peterborough area himself to explore conditions, establish a safe travel route and inspect land. Peterborough at this time was a remote and rugged place with a small population. The area was transformed with the sudden influx of 2000 men, women and children in 1825!
As in 1823, thousands applied for the voyage leaving from Cork. Prospective settlers had to secure "letters of recommendation" outlining their qualities and usefulness as settlers. Those selected received "embarkation certificates" allowing them to board a particular ship.
Again, the ships arrived at Quebec (June 1825). Settlers were loaded onto steamships for a trip down the St Lawrence River and Lake Ontario to Cobourg. After a rough land trip to Rice Lake, the settlers made the final leg of their journey to Peterborough by barge up the Otonabee River (a 24 mile river trip).
At Peterborough, families were issued free provisions, tools, livestock and farm land.
Life was hard for these people. Several died in the years immediately following the emigration. Some families were given poor farm land and had to relocate and of course, the unforgiving Canadian winters were a challenge.
The Stakesby, August 7, 1823 There are two lists, one apparently made when people arrived on board and another on Aug 7, 1823. The first list divides the passengers into 43 groups of three to eight persons each. Families are more or less, but not always together. This grouping seems to be for the purpose of measuring the daily food allowance. The list presented here is based on the second list. embarked on board of the Stakesby transport for
passage to Quebec From Ontario Archives, Peter Robinson Papers, F61, MS-12, Reel#2 Located on the east half of Lot 1, con. 10, Ramsay Former residence Adare, Limerick John Young, 41, Katharine [Kelly] Young, 39 Rachel Young, 19, Margaret Young, 18, Lelitia Young, 17, Dorah Young, 15 Katharine Young, 13 - (Katrin) m. William WILSON (b. 1811-12) in Lanark Co., bef. 1836. Lived in Perth, then to Dorchester Sta. bef. 1851 Maryanne Young, 5, Harriet Young, 3, Henry Stakesby Young,Born at sea 2nd Aug 1823
Source of marriage record: , Saginaw Co Michigan (USA) History Book Donor email: , tcy2rchus@earthlink.net John Young =Kathryn Kelly 06-01-1823, Our Lady, Thomas A Young |
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