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William Fraser, Sheriff, was authorized by the
Sessions to remove the prisoners from the gaol at
Johnstown, to the new Court House at Brockville,
on the roth or 11th of September, 1810. Mr. James
Powell, of Brockville, informs us that a strong party
in the eastern part of the District was opposed to
the removal, and laboring under the impression that
no legally constituted Court could be held without
the Court of Arms, determined to resist its removal
by force. By some stratagem, the coveted ensignia
was secured by the Brockville representatives, but
it was discovered by their opponents. The result
was a hand to hand struggle for possession, which
terminated in a victory for the party representing
the new Court House. During the me/ee, the Court
of Arms was torn in the corner, but afterwards
repaired, The same painting yet graces the wall
above the Judge’s seat in the present Court House.
The first Quarter Sessions held at Brockville
assembled at the Court House, on Tuesday, Nov.
És 481
An examination of the records fully accounts for
the peculiar name by which Brockville was originally
known, viz.: “Snarlingtown.” A great number of
prominent citizens were engaged in personal alter¬
cations, which genearlly terminated in a law suit
before the Quarter Sessions.
In 1817. the Justices of the Session first drew pay
for their attendance, and it is a significant fact,
that, during the same session, the Treasurer was
authorized to borrow £500. Since that date, the
representatives of the Counties have not only
advanced the daily remuneration from four shillings
to three dollars, but have succeeded in augmenting
the debt in like proportion.
At an early period, the Collectors were authorized
to collect the taxes from a valuation of the personal
property, the land being specially designated as
exempt. Such a course was pursued in reference
to the Townships of Drummond, Bathurst, and
Burgess.
By an Act passed in the Second Session of the
Provincial Parliament (1793), it was provided that
any two Justices of the Peace could issue their war¬
rants, giving eight days" notice to the constable of
the parish, township, or reputed township, authoriz¬
ing the constable to assemble the inhabitant house¬
holders, paying, or those liable to pay, any public
assessment, at some convenient place within the
parish or township, for the purpose of choosing or
nominating the parish or township officers. After
the year 1793, the meeting was to be called on the
first Monday in March. The officers to be elected
were a Town Clerk, two Assessors, a Collector, not
Highways, one or more Pound-keepers ; and also to
choose two discreet persons to serve the office of
Town Wardens, but it was provided, when a church
was built for Divine service (Church of England)
with a parson or minister appointed thereto, then
the inhabitants were to choose one Warden, and
the parson or minister to nominate the other. The
constable who was authorized to preside at the
meeting, furnished the Justices with a list of the
officers chosen, and they were duly installed by
taking the oaths of office prescribed. No provision
was made as to the manner of deciding between the
claims of rival candidates, hence, we are led to infer,
that a show of hands decided the matter, thus, in
the wilds of Canada, repeating the system adopted
in the halcyon days of the Grecian Republics.
Some confusion grew out of different Justices
appointing different places for holding the town
meeting, and, to prevent confusion. the Justices, in
Sessions assembled, passed a resolution, making the
first call valid. When disputes arose, they were
settled by the Sessions.
The first Coroner mentioned in the minutes is
Oliver Evertts, of Augusta.
In 1819, the following scale of prices, for the
ferries at Brockville and Prescott, was adopted :—
BROCKVILLE.
Each person: One shilling and sixpence.
Horse or Ox: Three shillings and sixpence.
Carriage : One shilling and threepence.
PRESCOTT,
Each person: One shilling.
Horse or Ox: Two shillings and sixpence.
Carriage: One shilling.
Such prices, in 1878, would soon make our ferry¬
men millionaries.
In 1820, a difficulty arose in reference to the town
officers of Elizabethtown, when the following were
appointed by the Sessions :
Jonathan Fulford, Clerk and Assessor.
Samuel Raymond, Assessor and Collector.
For North and South Crosby, the following
appointments were also made:
Chapman Pennock, Clerk and Assessor.
George Delong, Assessor.
Joseph Merriman, Collector.
In the same year, the following rule was made
for the guidance of the gaolor : |
He was commanded to go twice during the day
to any part of the village, at the hours of to A, M.
and 2 Pp. M., to carry any message sent by prisoners
confined in the gaol. In case of sickness, he was to
go at any time, day or night. The remuneration