AO Records relating to the Peter Robinson settlers (RG 1-163)

The Archives of Ontario holds several microfilm reels with copies of volumes relating to Peter Robinson, including Records relating to the Peter Robinson settlers (RG 1-163). The Archives Descriptive Database includes a permanent link to an overview of these records.

Series RG 1-163

Title: Records relating to the Peter Robinson settlers
Dates of Creation: [ca. 1823]-1835
Physical Description: 1.5 metres of textual records (5 volumes)
Scope and Content: Series consists of a variety of records relating to the Peter Robinson Settlement which were sent to and used in the Surveyor General’s Office.
Administrative History or Biographical Sketch: In 1823, as a form of poor relief, the Imperial government began a program to assist individuals from southern Ireland to emigrate to Canada. The settlement of these emigrants was entrusted to the civil administration of Upper Canada and Peter Robinson, the brother of the Attorney General of Upper Canada, was placed in charge of organising and supervising the undertaking. The first group of emigrants, arriving in 1823, largely were located in the townships of Ramsay, Huntley, Pakenham and Goulbourn on the Ottawa River, near or adjacent to the Lanark and military settlements. A second, much larger, group of emigrants was brought over in 1825, locating in townships in the Peterborough area, most notably Douro, Otonabee, Asphodel, Smith, Emily, Ennismore, and Ops. Emigrants were given free transportation to Upper Canada, provisions during the voyage and for an additional year following their location on land, and the tools and utensils required for settlement. Each male emigrant between the ages of 18 and 45 years was to receive a location ticket for 70 acres of land, with the option of purchasing an additional 30 acres at a later date.
Restrictions on Access: Original records are closed for conservation reasons.
Terms For Use and Reproduction: Copyright is primarily held by the Crown. No restrictions on reproduction. Permission of the Archives of Ontario is required for publication; submit a Request for Permission to Publish, Exhibit or Broadcast Form.
Immediate Source of Acquisition: Records were transferred to the Archives of Ontario by the Department of Lands and Forests.
Availability of Other Formats: This series is available on microfilm.
Former Codes: Volume RG 1-163-0-1 formerly was RG 1 C-I-3, volume 155.; Volume RG 1-163-0-2 formerly was RG 1 C-I-3, volume 159.; Volume RG 1-163-0-3 formerly was RG 1 C-I-3, volume 156.; Volume RG 1-163-0-4 formerly was RG 1- C-I-3, volume 160.; Volume RG 1-163-0-5 formerly was RG 1 C-I-3, volume 158.
Finding Aid: A volume list is available for this series (see Tables 1-5 below.
Agency or agencies that created these records: These records were created by the following Ontario government agency or agencies:; [ca. 1823]-1835 – Surveyor General’s Office
How to order these records: From our Reading Rooms – Volume is located on self- service microfilm MS 693, reel 156.; By Microfilm Interloan – These records are available through the Archives of Ontario Microfilm Interloan Service, which allows you to borrow microfilmed archival records through a library or other institution that participates in the interlibrary loan system.

Volume RG 1-163 is divided into five sub-series.

Sub-series RG 1-163-0-1

Title: [Details of the Emigration of 1823]
Dates of Creation: [ca. 1823]
Physical Description: 1 volume of textual records
Scope and Content: Part one of this volume is entitled “Detail of the Emigration of 1823”. It contains statements from the Superintendents of the Perth and Richmond Military Settlements, dated 1826, concerning the “contentment and industry” of the Peter Robinson settlers. Entries are recorded in rough alphabetical order according to the surname of the settler and record: the name and place of residence of the settler (township, concession and lot); the names of his wife and children and the ages of the children; their former place of residence in Ireland; the date they were located on land in Upper Canada; the total number of individuals in the family; rations allotted (e.g., flour, pork); goods received (e.g., blankets, utensils, implements). Part two of this volume contains roughly the same information as Part One, but is more detailed in relation to rations allotted and goods received.
File/Item Ref. Code: RG 1-163-0-1
File or Item Forms a Part of: Records relating to the Peter Robinson settlers
Restrictions on the Group of Records of which this File/Item forms a Part: Original records are closed for conservation reasons.
Location and Ordering Information: Volume is located on self-service microfilm MS 693, reel 156.
Note this information for retrieval of this item.To help you find what you need, also note the File/Item Ref. Code and/or the Creator Ref. shown above.

Sub-series RG 1-163-0-2

Title

[Copybook of records relating to Peter Robinson settlers]

Dates of Creation

[ca 1823]

Physical Description

1 volume of textual records

Scope and Content

This volume consists of a copybook containing three parts. Part one, entitled “Military Settlement Irish Emigrants”, records roughly the same information as is found in Parts one and two of Volume RG 1- 163-0-1, but contains less detail in relation to rations allotted and goods received. In addition, religion is recorded. Part two consists of a copy of a list of “Emigrants from the South of Ireland located by Peter Robinson, Esq.”. Entries record the name of the family head and where they were located (township, concession, lot). The lots on which these settlers were located on were in the townships of Ramsay, Pakenham, Bathurst, Lanark, Beckwith, Goulbourn, Darling and Huntley.

Part three consists of a copy of a report prepared by Peter Robinson for Lord Dalhousie, the Governor General, and forwarded to R. Wilmot-Horton, Esq., M.P., the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, on his activities in regards to emigration and settlement.

The three reports were prepared ca. 1823. An alphabetical index to settlers, prepared ca. 1932 by the Archives of Ontario, is found at the back of the volume.

File/Item Ref. Code

RG 1-163-0-2

File or Item Forms a Part of

This file or item forms a part of the following group of records:
Records relating to the Peter Robinson settlers.

Restrictions on the Group of Records of which this File/Item forms a Part

Original records are closed for conservation reasons.

Location and Ordering Information

Volume is located on self-service microfilm MS 693, reel 156. Note this information for retrieval of this item.To help you find what you need, also note the File/Item Ref. Code and/or the Creator Ref. shown above.

Sub-series RG 1-163-0-3

Title: Emigrants from the South of Ireland located by Peter Robinson
Dates of Creation: [ca. 1823]
Physical Description: 1 volume of textual records
Scope and Content: This volume consists of the original list of “Emigrants from the South of Ireland located by Peter Robinson”, a copy of which is found in Part two of Volume RG 1-163-0-2.
File/Item Ref. Code: RG 1-163-0-3
File or Item Forms a Part of: This file or item forms a part of the following group of records: Records relating to the Peter Robinson settlers
Restrictions on the Group of Records of which this File/Item forms a Part: Original records are closed for conservation reasons.
Location and Ordering Information: Volume is located on self-service microfilm MS 693, reel 156. Note this information for retrieval of this item.To help you find what you need, also note the File/Item Ref. Code and/or the Creator Ref. shown above.

Sub-series RG 1-163-0-4

Title

[Copybook of records relating to Peter Robinson settlers]

Dates of Creation

1823-1826

Physical Description

1 volume of textual records

Scope and Content

This volume consists of a copybook containing various correspondence, reports, returns and other documentation relating to the Peter Robinson settlers, as follows: Copies of correspondence dated 1834 to 1835, between Robinson and the Civil Secretary of the Executive Council, requesting that patents be issued; A “Return of a portion of the Irish emigrants located in the Bathurst District in 1823 and 1824 by Peter Robinson,Esq., and who are now entitled to receive their deeds, the lots having been inspected by Francis K. Jessop in 1824”. Entries in this return are arranged by township, then by concession and lot;

An “Abstract of disbursements made by the Hon. P. Robinson, Superintendent of Emigration, from the South of Ireland, at Ramsay in the District of Bathurst, Upper Canada”, prepared ca. 1826, which covers the period 1823 to 1826; A listing showing “Amount of rations of provisions issued to emigrants from the south of Ireland under the Superintendence of the Hon. Peter Robinson from their arrival in Canada to their final settlement” for the period 1823 to 1826. The listing records: the name of the head of family; the number of men and women in the family; the number of children over and under 7 years of age; the period during which rations were provided; the number of days for which rations were provided; and the number of pounds of flour and meat issued. Entries also may contain various notes (e.g., concerning deaths, births at sea); “Accounts of provisions expended at the depot in Ramsay for sundry services, 1823-1825” (e.g., medical services, building and road construction); General statements of provisions purchased and dispersed;

A “Statement of stores received, issued and remaining”; Copies of Peter Robinson’s accounts submitted to the Treasury in his capacity as Superintendent of Emigration from the south of Ireland, for the years 1823 to 1825; A “Return of Emigrants from the south of Ireland located by the Hon. P. Robinson in 1823 who will become entitled to their patent grants for their respective locations”. The return records: the name of the emigrant; the date and place of location (township, concession, lot) and acreage; and remarks (e.g., concerning transfers of land, deaths, etc.). Entries are grouped by township, then are placed in rough alphabetical order. The return contains pencilled additions to 1832;

A “Return of Emigrants from the south of Ireland located by the Hon. P. Robinson in 1825 who will become entitled to their patent grants for their respective locations”. The return records: the name of the emigrant; the date and place of location (township, concession, lot) and acreage; and remarks (e.g., concerning transfers of land, deaths, etc.). Entries are grouped by township, then are placed in rough alphabetical order. The return contains pencilled additions to 1832.

Parts J and K are similar in content to Volume RG 1-163-0-5, except for the pencilled notations. An alphabetical index to emigrants is found at the back of the volume.

File/Item Ref. Code

RG 1-163-0-4

File or Item Forms a Part of

This file or item forms a part of the following group of records: RG 1-163. Records relating to the Peter Robinson settlers

Restrictions on the Group of Records of which this File/Item forms a Part

Original records are closed for conservation reasons.

Location and Ordering Information

Sub-series RG 1-163-0-5

Title: [Return of emigrant settlers …]
Dates of Creation: 1825
Physical Description: 1 volume of textual records
Scope and Content: This volume consists of an original “Return of emigrant settlers sent to Upper Canada at the expense of His Majesty’s Government and located in the Districts of Bathurst and Newcastle, under the Superintendence of the Honble Peter Robinson, 24th November 1825”. This volume is similar in content to parts J and K of Volume RG 1-163-0-4, except for the pencilled notations.
File/Item Ref. Code: RG 1-163-0-5
File or Item Forms a Part of: This file or item forms a part of the following group of records: RG 1-163 Records relating to the Peter Robinson settlers.
Restrictions on the Group of Records of which this File/Item forms a Part: Original records are closed for conservation reasons.
Location and Ordering Information: Volume is located on self-service microfilm MS 693, reel 156. Note this information for retrieval of this item.To help you find what you need, also note the File/Item Ref. Code and/or the Creator Ref. shown above.