September 4 2008:

In the 1700's and 1800's, present day Ontario was surveyed into townships and 200 acre
farms to accept new settlers. Almost thirty per cent of the land was reserved for support of
a Protestant (Anglican / Episcopal) Clergy and reserves for the crown -- commonly called
crown land.

The illustration below shows a sample survey done for a new township. This one starts
at the waterfront and is 9 miles by 16 miles. The division into Crown and Clergy Reserves 
and two hundred acre farm parcels is also shown.


Source: Source: Upper Canada, the Formative Years
1784-1841
by Gerald M. Craig, page 27



Source (Below): Source: Upper Canada, the Formative Years
1784-1841
by Gerald M. Craig, page 24




Individual township maps for the year 1880 are available from the McGill University Digital County Atlas Project.
These maps show the locations and names of owners of all of the farm properties in Ontario.

See also Gaelynn Wall's page for examples of how to locate your ancestor's original land grant
in Upper Canada.

... Al


September 9, 2008:

Thanks to John for the following information:

The process in the Outouais Region of Quebec / Lower Canada:
Source: The Aylmer Road: An Illustrated History 
Author: Diane Aldred


October 19, 2009:

Hi Al:

I've transcribed the 1847 Diary of Hugh Falls, a Provincial Land Surveyor with
his survey of Bennett's & Bissett's creeks in Renfrew County.  He refers to a few men he hired
as well as a few he encountered during the survey.  I thought these names
might be of interest to anyone researching these families.  Feel free to
post any of the diary that might be of interest.  I'm not certain that I've
transcribed all of the place names correctly as I'm not too familiar with
the geography of the area.  Perhaps you can correct any mistakes I've made
if you notice any.  I was surprised that it only took Hugh Falls one day to
travel from Bytown to Montreal-thought it would take longer than that. I
think he was paid 114 pounds for this survey.

Linda Falls
________________________________

Michael McDermott was also a land surveyor in the Bytown area between 1842 and 1849. You can see his story at his web page.

... Al
_______________________________

Dear Al,
 
On July 20, 2005, I  wrote you requesting information on Michael McDermott, 
a Provincial Land Surveyor who lived in Bytown in 1845. I later received 
useful information on him from Francis McDermott. 
 
I am now pleased to tell you that the results of my research have recently 
been published by the Canadian Museum of Civilization. The title of the 
publication is "William E. Logan's 1845 Survey of the Upper Ottawa Valley, 
Edited and Introduced by Charles H. Smith and Ian Dyck". Copies of the 
publication can be ordered from the CMC.
 
The publication is based on Logan's 1845 journal, written on a geological 
expedition up the Ottawa River from Lachine to Lake Timiskaming, and is 
sprinkled with stories of daily life and the people he met along the way.
 
Thanks to "Bytown or Bust" for the assistance!
 
Charles Smith
________________________

Note:
Google "Canadian Museum of Civilization", click on "Boutique", then click on
"Publications" to find this book.

... Al
November 8, 2009:

The Eastern, Johnstown and Midland Districts, c. 1800
Map Source: Upper Canada: The Formative Years, 1784-1841, by Gerald M. Craig
McClelland and Stewart, ISBN 0-7710-2311-1, page 45.


November 16, 2009:
 The Development Continues
Here is an article from the Ottawa Citizen, dated November 16, 2009, page C3.
This shows some work soon to be done in the Jockvale area of Barrhaven.
The project is named after some well-known pioneer families, Foster, Kennedy and Burnett.


December 30, 2009:

Hi Al:

In trying to find more information about Hugh Falls I discovered that Upper Canada repealed the Quebec law governing land surveyors 
in 1818 and initiated their own process of determining qualified land surveyors.  Individuals had to apply to the Surveyor General 
for a licence, post a 500 pound bond (& how many of them could post such a huge sum at that period of time?)  They usually had 
to ‘apprentice’ with a licensed surveyor for an extended period of time before they were granted their licence. 

Hugh Falls received his licence in 1841.  Since he arrived in 1818 in the Richmond settlement  I don’t know if it took him till 1841
to come up with the 500 pounds or how long he had to serve with a qualified surveyor. I will attach the statue of the province
governing land surveyors (below) as well as Hugh’s license.  I don’t know if this is of interest to your readers.  I don’t recognize 
any of the other surveyor’s names & Hugh Falls is the only individual attributed specifically to Huntley township.

Other names are:
Onesephorus Bartley
Francis Jones
Thos Cottrine Keefer
Humphrey Young
Matthew Kyle
Robert Walsh   Gore of Toronto
John Knatchbull Roche   Kingston 

... Linda Falls

The Statues of the province of Upper Canada (1792-1831) 

					Chapter XIV
An act to repeal an ordinance of the province of Quebec, passed in the twenty-fifth year of his Majesty's reign, entitled, 
"An ordinance concerning land surveyors, and the admeasurement of lands," and also to extend the provisions of an act passed 
in the thirty-eight year of his Majesty's reign, entitled, "An act to ascertain and establish on a permanent footing the 
boundary lines of the different townships in this province," and further to regulate the manner in which lands are hereafter to be surveyed
(passed November 27, 1818)

Whereas an ordinance of the province of Quebec, passed in the twenty-fifth year of his Majesty's reign, entitled, "An ordinance 
concerning land surveyors, and the admeasurement of land" is in many instances, as far as the same relates to this province, 
found to be inapplicable; be it enacted by the King's most excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the 
legislative council and assembly of the province of Upper Canada, constituted and assembled by virtue of and under the authority of 
an act passed in the parliament of Great Britain, entitled, "An act to repeal certain parts of an act passed in the fourteenth year 
of his Majesty's reign, entitled, "An act for making more effectual provision for the government of the province of Quebec, in North America, 
and to make further provision for the government of the said province,'" and by the authority of the same, That the said ordinance, so far
as it relates to or affects this province, be, and the same is hereby repealed. 

Qualifications of surveyors	   
V. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That 
				  from and after the passing of this act, no person shall act 
				  as a surveyor of lands in this province, until he shall 
				  have been duly examined by the surveyor general or 
				  deputy surveyor general thereof, as to his fitness and
				  capacity, and shall have obtained a license from, and 
				  be appointed to act as such by, the governor, lieutenant 
				  Governor, or person administering the government of 
				  this province, for the time being, and shall have entered
				  into a bond, with two sufficient sureties, in the sum of 
				  five hundred pounds, to his Majesty, his heirs and 
				  successors, for the due performance of his office, and 
				  shall have taken and subscribed the oath of allegiance, 
				  and the following oath, before the surveyor general or 
				  deputy surveyor general of this province:
				    "I, A.B., do solemnly swear that I will well and truly 
				  discharge the duty of a surveyor of lands, agreeably to]					 			 
				  the law, without favor, affection, or partiality, when and
				  as often as I may be required thereto by any person or 
				  persons, or by the rule or order of any court of justice, 
				  and which I will faithfully, and without unnecessary 
				  delay, submit to the party requiring the same, or the court 
				  directing my duty; also a plan of survey, if required.  So
				  Help me God"

				  Provided always, That this act shall not extend, or be 
				  construed to extend, to prevent any person or persons
				  from acting as a surveyor of lands in this province, who
				  is now authorized to act as such by virtue of a license 
				  from the governor, lieutenant governor, or person
				  administering the government of this province.

VI.	And be it further enacted by the authority 
aforesaid, that it shall and may be lawful for the
surveyor general or deputy surveyor general of 
this province, to examine applicants to survey, and
if found competent, to grant certificates to that effect,
and to administer the foregoing oaths, which oaths shall be deposited in the surveyor general's office.

VII.  And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That it shall and may be lawful for the governor, lieutenant governor, 
or person administering the government of this province, to grant licenses to such persons as are well recommended, on their
producing satisfactory certificates from the surveyor general or deputy surveyor general of this province, of their 
competent knowledge of the theory and practice of surveying in all its branches, to survey in this province during their good behavior.


 June 27, 2010:
The following map was produced by Joseph Bouchette, Surveyor General of Canada:
Map Source: The Lochaber Emigrants to Glengarry, 1802, page 58