Upper Canada Justices of the Peace 1788-1841

Frederick H. Armstrong

The Magistrates were "the hinge between the people and the provincial government at York/Toronto ... they oversaw the local administrative, financial and basic judicial services." Many were financially secure and held multiple offices. The magistrates and the sheriff met quarterly and made decisions on their district’s administration, set taxes, decided on financial expenditures and public works and heard appropriate court cases.

Here you will find the 1,999 men who formed the backbone of the justice system in Upper Canada from 1788 to 1841. Many were from the “Family Compact” families and had intertwined business and personal relations. Their names frame the history of Ontario — Osgoode, Strachan,Ryerson, Talbot, Van Kleek, Baby, Adamson.

2007 64p index