The Registrations of Over a Century
[People’s Press, 25 January 1910]
Many years ago, as they say in the story books, the Puritan fathers rebelled against the Mother-land and took up arms against her.
England was busy then, very busy in other parts of the world, for nations grim-visaged and experts in the art of war anywhere, and to protect our frontier and it was not much of a frontier then, and to aid in subduing her unruly children, Butler’s Rangers took a prominent part.
That was a stormy period.
When the war was over, or rather when the revolution ceased, and independence was granted, Butler’s troops disbanded.
They liked Canada, liked it so well that they asked for land grants and received them from the Crown.
It is a far, far call from 1796 to 1910, one hundred and fourteen years, yet in that red brick stone pile beneath the shadow of the Welland county court house, in the registry office, are the records of property transferred in that long ago.
If those deeds and books lying tier upon tier could only speak, they would tell strange tales of sales and transfers and foreclosures, but there they are, containing over 100,000 instruments, representing many millions in money and years of toil. Hundreds of thousands of people have been directly and indirectly interested in these deeds.
Through the courtesy of J.C. Crow, the obliging registrar, a Press representative was last week given a peep behind the scenes, for even an austere and prosaic business like the keeping of the deeds in a registry office has its mystic side.
Mr. Crow held up a blue paper carefully folded.
It was a deed, dated 22nd June 1796, nine o’clock.
“The ink is as clear as though it were written yesterday,” the writer observed.
“Read on,” replied Mr. Crow.
“I certify that this is a true copy. The original is not in existence.”
John Powell, registrar, Lincoln.
Then Mr. Crow went back into history.
In the war of 1812, when Uncle Sam was ambitious, she fired hot shot at Niagara, and the registry office was destroyed, with many records. This took place on Dec. 10, 1813. However, not all of the books went up in smoke, and between the books saved and records preserved, copies were made and certified to, similar to the one exhibited by the registrar.
To this double system the preservation is owed, and today throughout Ontario each deed is copied in a book, and in the registry office in Welland, besides being in a fire proof building, the two wings are separate, in one are the books, in the other wing the records.
Fire could not reach them.
The town of Welland, old to the oldest of us living, is not old in comparative history, neither is the county.
In all the eight townships comprising the county settlement was begun at least twenty years prior to the year 1800.
And in this connection the following list will be most interesting.
FIRST DOCUMENTS
Here is a list of the first documents registered in each of the townships in which Welland county was afterwards composed.
BERTIE
A deed poll registered 22nd June 1796, as No. 9 from John Maybee, “of a place commonly called Chippawa Township in the county of Lincoln and Province of Upper Canada,” to Nathan Raymond of Bertie, of Lincoln aforesaid, of lot 9 in the Twp. of Bertie aforesaid “lying in the front on Niagara river, nearly opposite the south end of Grand Island, 120 acres more or less,” for a consideration of 21 pounds, 5 shillings. This land lies immediately north of the present municipality of Bridgeburg.
CROWLAND
A deed registered 6th January 1798 (as No. 37) from Daniel Hazen to James Macklem, of lands in the Tp. of Crowland, county of Lincoln, described as lots 4, 5, 6 and 7, in 1st con., 460 acres, “Situate on the River Welland, about 4 miles from its mouth.”
HUMBERSTONE
A deed (No. 30) registered 22nd Sept. 1798 from Thomas Welch to Christian Zavitz, part lot 33, con. 1 in Tp. Humberstone, county of Lincoln, 204 acres. This land is the very southwest part of Humberstone Tp., and is the farm on which Sugar Loaf Hill is situate.
PELHAM
A deed registered 10th March 1798, (No. 34) from James Austin of the town of Newark to Haggai Skinner of Pelham, in the county of Lincoln of lot 6, con. 14, 186 acres. This is the farm at Reilly’s Bridge now owned by John H. Cosby and Alexander Eastman.
STAMFORD
A lease from John Burch to Benjamin Hardison and John Fanning of lots 191, 192, 193, 223 and 224 and broken front of 191 and 192 in Tp. Stamford Co. of Lincoln, 370 acres, registered 18th Sept. 1796 as No. 8. That part of Chippawa village on north side of Welland river is situate upon these lands.
THOROLD TP.
Deed registered, September 1798(No. 31) from Thomas Welch to Martin Mitchell, of lots———and is now owned by Wm. H. Willson.
WAINFLEET
A deed registered as No. 31 on 22nd August, 1797, from Edward Burk of the town of Queenston in the township of Newark Co., of Lincoln, in the Home district of Newark Co. of the Province of Upper Canada to John McKay of the town and township of Newark, 200 acres described as lot 24 on the Welland river in Tp. Wainfleet, Co. Lincoln. This property is situate about midway between Beckett’s Bridge and Candasville, and is John___and Jacob Chambers, respectively.
WILLOUGHBY
A deed from Thomas Cummings of the Tp. Of Willoughby, Co. of Lincoln, to James Macklem of Tp. of Stamford in Lincoln Co., a lot containing forty parcels situate on the N.E. Side and near the mouth of the Chippawa creek, registered 13th July 1796, as No. 5. This of course would be at what is now Chippawa village.
SETTLEMENT BEGUN
The numbers given these eight instruments would indicate that one series of numbers was used for the whole county or, more likely, for the whole Niagara district, which at that time was one registry division with municipal offices located at Old Niagara.
The dates of these several registrations being so close together, three of them in 1796, one in 1797 and four in 1798, would indicate that permanent settlement began throughout the county at about the same time. It is also interesting to note that all of these deeds name the township but none of them say “Welland Co.” This shows that the townships had been surveyed and named prior to the year 1800, and it is a known fact that the townships were organized for municipal purposes in the very beginning of the 19th century. The word “Welland” is not found in any registered instrument till about the year 1849, which is about the time a provisional council was granted to Welland county.
And so the Niagara peninsula gradually took shape, the forest was gradually cleared, and in 1817 the population was nearly 6,000 souls.
The year 1841 found Niagara District Council organized with a district registry office and court house.
But this was not satisfactory to some of the pioneers, and after an agitation for separation for nine or ten years, an act was passed in August 2nd 1851, and a provisional municipal council was given Welland, and the registry office opened in 1852 by D. D’Everardo at Fonthill.
The final act of separation of Lincoln and Welland passed on April 31st, 1856 and the proclamation setting Welland apart, was read on May 12, 1856.
And then arose internal dissension.
ALL ABOUT THE COURT HOUSE
Where would the court hose be? To what place would be the proud distinction of having the title county seat?
MR. ELLIOT’S MEMORY
The first instrument registered by Registrar D’Everardo was to the provisional municipal council of Welland, from Donald McFarland, Port Robinson, and John Donaldson of Oneida, Haldimand county.
The instrument was transferring the site upon which the Welland court house now stands.
The second instrument was a site for Port Robinson from John Ramsden, Humberstone, father of the present ex-reeve.
They were very much in earnest over having the county seat in Port Robinson, and a few of the ardent spirits raised money to buy the land. The ardor continued, and George Elliot, the deputy registrar remembers the day, a cold and stormy one, when amid ardor increased (to keep out the cold) the corner stone was laid. But the property was deeded back after the court house was erected in Welland.
OTHERS ENVIOUS
But other places besides Port Robinson wanted to be called “The Capital.”
There was Cook’s Mills.
“We are the centre of the county,” they called in unison.
There was Fonthill.
“We are beautiful for site and elevation,” they called.
But Merrittville it was, Welland it is and shall be.
REGISTRY OFFICE COMES HERE
However, the registry office remained in Fonthill for several years, but one day, in the year 1871, a real live agitation arose in the county council and the pleasing little village of Fonthill lost its registry office, and in the autumn of 1872, the records were removed to Welland.
In the court house was where they kept the instruments for eight years, but in the year 1880 the then sufficiently commodious structure was erected.
THOSE IN POSITION
And who held the seats of the mighty in thee olden days when the court house first reared its head. The first sheriff was Robert Hobson, in 1856, and the first judge, His Honor H.W. Price, in the same year. D. D’Everardo was a busy man, on him devolved the duties of registrar clerk of the Surrogate Court, and county clerk, L.D. Raymond, the father of L.C. Raymond , K.C., acted a clerk of the peace.
THE FIRST BOOK
Registrar D. D’Everado opened his first book on March 11, 1852..
It was but 11 columns.
The registrars in Welland county: Mr. D’D’Everardo who died on July 28, 1891; Col. Morin who was called by death on Oct. 6, 1892 and the present registrar J.C. Crow.
A FEW FIGURES
Figures are dry things and only supposed to be used at political meetings, bank meetings, and when raising money for the church, but in this case it is pleasing to note that Welland’s growth and the county’s awakening is told in the following figures.
Tabulating the business thus shown to have passed through the hands of the three incumbents of the office, we find the total number of registered instruments in the office to be as follows:
Mr. D.”Everardo-
From March 11, 1852 to Dec. 30, 1865…..14,292.
From January 1866 to July 1891, ………..50,903.
Total in a little over 39 years,…… 65,195 (Or about 1650 per year).
Col. Morin, From July 1891 to Oct. 1892 in about 11 ½ years…24,148 (Or about 2150 per year).
Mr. Crow-to Dec. 31 1909
A little over seven years ..25,065 (Or over 3450 per year.}
Total documents registered since Welland office opened in 1852…114,408
Add documents registered in Niagara and Lincoln, prior to 1852, and now on file here (estimated at)…10,000.
And a total of ….124,408.
Instruments are found in the Welland office.
These figures reveal the continuous and always interesting volume of business done in the office. Mr. D’Everardo, in his last 25 years registered but 1690 more instruments, than did Col. Morin and Mrs. Crow, in the next 18 years, and Mr. Crow in the past seven years did 917 more registrations than were done by Col. Morin in the preceding 11 years.
A BUSY MAN
“You are a busy man.”
“Yes…we are busy in here now,” replied the registrar.
“Come in here.”
The Press representative followed. Here tier upon tier were books.
“Come over here.”
Here was tier upon tier of tins-the technical word is not forthcoming.
“Millions of dollars are held on record here?”
“Millions,” was the reply. “One mortgage for over four million dollars is registered here.”
“Many thousands are interested in the contents of this building.”
“I should say so.”
The east room has 480 shelves, out of which the books come on roller bearings. There are 480 shelves and 435 books, and the number growing steadily.
“Where do the other books go? Where do books go that have no fitting place?
In short, Registrar Crow is badly crowed for room.
Under one counter drawer are stuffed 322 plans.
The drawer accommodation is not one-quarter large enough.
And, musing on the growth of things, on the fingers now still, who wrote on those deeds now behind fire-proof walls, the Press thanked the registrar for his courtesy and went out.
[Welland Tribune, 8 December 1910]
The report on the committee of good roads was read and adopted and ordered printed on circulars and mailed to ratepayers, on the motion of Mr. Goodwin, seconded by Mr. Foster.
The report which deals with a scheme for the raising by the county of $100,000 by debenture for the purpose of road improvement, is an interesting one and is here appended.
Report of Good Roads Committee
Your committee report as follows:- Their efforts have been entirely confined to the collection of reliable information for submission to their board.
It was not deemed expedient to call a special meeting of the reeves, as authorized by this board, to adjust the distribution or compensatory considerations to each municipality, as it is the sentiment of this committee that the best interests of the county will be served by leaving this consideration in the hands of a county road commission, to be appointed by this board at its first session of 1911, should this council favor the fast growing sentiment throughout the county by endorsing the recommendation for an appropriation of $100,000 to be expended by the county in a good roads system.
The following condensed data demonstrates what the cost per mile will be and the assessment per dollar will call for as per latest annual report of Hon. Mr. Reaume on Highway Improvement. This has been constructed under the provincial county systems. On the assessment of Welland county the tax would be on a basis of thirty years 4 per cent, debentures, payable yearly, one half mill, or 50¢ on each $1,000 dollars. Thus a farm assessed at $1,000 would amount yearly to only 50¢.
And we would further recommend that the clerk be instructed to have the report of the good road committee as presented at our June sessions printed in a circular and distributed before nomination day. (Signed by McKenzie, Smith, McGill and Goodwin, committee.)
Mr. Foster spoke on the goods roads question and said the farmers were commencing to realize better than ever before the financial advantages of good roads. “Bad roads are more of a burden than good roads,” he said, “and the farmers are becoming educated to the value of good roads.”
Mr. McGill, Thorold, said Welland county was about twenty years behind on the roads question, and we should have good roads at once. Good roads were of value to every farm in the county, and prosperity couldn’t continue without good roads. Mr. McGill was also strongly in favor of giving publicity to the scheme by the issuing of circulars.
Mr. Wilson, Bertie, said he had heard good roads talked at the County Council for some four or five years. He thought the council should take a trip to Bertie and see what good roads they had there. Money on stone roads was well spent in his opinion.
Mr. Zimmerman, Bertie, also referred to the good stone roads in Bertie and expressed himself strongly in favor of any good roads movement.
Mr. Smith, Port Colborne referred to the good material which Welland county had close at hand for the building of good roads. He thought that Bertie really had about the best roads in the county.
Mr. Berriman, Stamford, also spoke in favor of the scheme. He said Stamford was also working on its own finances on the construction of good roads.
Mr. Fry, Pelham, referred to the fact that several of the townships were already building good stone road and gravel roads and did not need or want any county assistance for this purpose.
Dr. Boulter, Stamford, complimented the committee on its report and said he believed in the issuing of a circular to give publicity to the committee’s recommendations, etc. He said the Stamford people never objected to money expended on roads. The Doctor referred to the automobile tax, which he thought the government ought to refund to the municipalities for the purpose of expending on the roads.
Nearly all the councillors made short comments favorable to the movement, and the opinion was expressed that it would be a good idea for the government to be asked to pay over the automobile taxes to the municipalities to be expended on the roads.
It was suggested that ex-County Councillor, Mr. L.V. Garner, who was present, make a speech. Mr. Garner expressed his great surprise at being called upon, but, in a spirited and enthusiastic manner, expressed himself in favor of better roads in this county. Mr. Garner said that the reeves from the various municipalities should join together and give their support to the movement, regardless of the conditions of their own municipalities.
Manager of Ontario Iron and Steel Co.
Declares Local Option Would Cripple, Perhaps Close the Works
[Welland Tribune, 8 December 1910]
As work manager of Page Hersey Iron, Tube and Lead Co., Ltd., and Ontario Iron and Steel Co., Ltd., I wish to state the effect local option would have in our works.
From what I understand from a great number of our workmen, and especially most of our leading men, who have stated to me that if local option took effect in Welland, they would work just long enough to get another position elsewhere.
With my experience of running plants and handling men of this class for the last twenty years or more, I really do believe that local option, if carried, in the town of Welland, will cripple our works very much, if not close them down entirely, as this class of men will not work in a town where there is no license.
Last summer it cost our firm over $2,000 to import men from different parts of Canada, and United States, and three-fifths of these men did not work in Welland long enough to pay the fare back to us, which put us to a great expense. The men stated that they did not like Welland, and if there is no license here, it will be a great deal harder to get men of this class to come here.
The above companies employ at the present time between six and seven hundred men. The pay-roll of these two companies amounts to about $40,000 each month.
We have invested in plants about $1,000,000 and if any injury should happen, a plant of this kind through local option, or any other cause, it would be a great blow to any town of this size. I believe it would decrease property by about 150 per cent. I am only speaking of what I really believe; local option would not only injure our company’s property, but practically all real estate holdings in Welland.
I will also state that we have plans for a new plant, which we intend to build this spring and which are now in the hands of the contractors. This plant will increase our working staff from two hundred and fifty to three hundred men. I can safely say, as works manager of these plants, that if local option should injure our present plants, if carried, that the new works will not be built in the town of Welland or any where near it.
A.M. Moseley
Works Manager
[Welland Tribune, 8 December 1910]
and don’t pay rent for not! By a house of your own. We can sell you a home on a small payment down and the balance as rent. Here are a few of those homes:-
$1850- Crowland street, lot No. 59, 401/2×132, 7-room frame dwelling on concrete foundation, water, gas, sidewalk. Easy terms.
$1700- State street, lot No. 37, 33x 132, 7-room frame dwelling on concrete foundation, has bath, cellar, sewer, gas, cement walks. Can be had on easy terms.
$1700- Dorothy street, part lot, YY. 8-room frame dwelling, concrete foundation, cement walks, water, sewer, gas, electricity. Entrance from East Main street. Easy terms.
$1800- Queen street, lot 33×147, 7-roomed brick cottage with all modern conveniences. Can be had on a small payment down.
$2000- Sixth street, lot 30×163, 7-room frame dwelling, pine finish, bath, gas, water; woodshed in rear 12×14. Terms if required.
$1000- Sixth street, lot 40×163, 5-room frame house, pine finish, gas water, cellar; woodshed in rear. Easy terms if required.
$1550- Beatrice street, lot 19, 58×124, 7-room frame house, gas, water, cellar. 1 minute walk to Steel Plant or Pipe Mill.
$1650- Beatrice street, lot No. 18, 58×124, 7-room frame house, gas, water, cellar. 1 minute walk to Steel Plant or Pipe Mill.
$1600- Queen street, lot 33×200, 2-storey frame house, 6 rooms, pine finish, bath, gas, electricity, sewer, water, cellar. Easy terms.
$1600- Division street, lot 33×132, 2 storey brick dwelling, 7 rooms, bath, gas, electricity, sewer, water, cellar, with stationary tubs; a modern house in every way. Can be had on terms.
$1200- Garner ave, lot 43, 50×150, 6-room frame dwelling, pine finish, gas and electricity, water. Easy terms.
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