Why are there three categories for St Vincent Township in Canada?

Question

I have been learning about St Vincent Township, Grey County, Ontario (now Meaford).

I am curious as to why there are three categories for this little township and whether they should be merged?

• https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Category:St._Vincent_Township%2C_Upper_Canada
• https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Category:St._Vincent_Township%2C_Canada_West
• https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Category:St._Vincent_Township%2C_Ontario

Any advice on what to do?

Answer 1

All three categories are for a specific time period.  Before 1841, use Upper Canada.  Between 1842 and June 30, 1867 use Canada West.  After 1867, use Ontario.

Hope that helps.  Feel free to pm me if you need assistance.

Edited: Corrected typo

Comments

Ah, so it is intentional. That seems to make sense. I don't know so much about Canada and it has been interesting to learn some of the colonial history.

I have some ancestors who were recorded there over at least the three census 1851/1861/1871, who may have arrived as early as the 1820's, so conceivably I could add all three categories to their profile?

One ancestor https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Unknown-499632, I assume would have died there, however, I cannot be sure. The Bethel Union Pioneer Cemetery, Clearview, Simcoe County, Ontario, Canada, seems to have an interesting history. 

Anyone have some local knowledge about it?

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Since all four of Robert and Jane's sons were born in Upper Canada (Robert Jr. in 1831, Richard in 1834, William in 1838 and Alexander in 1841 according to the 1851 Census), the Johnsons definitely arrived in the province before 1831. The question is where they settled before farming in St. Vincent Township. Robert's land grant request for St. Vincent is dated 1847. The township wasn't opened for settlement until the 1830s and the first settlers are named in The History of Grey County. The Johnsons aren't among them. They may have been squatters, but I think it's more likely that they first settled in another township, then moved to St. Vincent.

I've added the land grant info to Robert's profile and will do a little more digging. For the time being, St. Vincent Township, Canada West, and St. Vincent Township, Ontario, would be the categories to add to Robert and Jane's profiles.

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Thanks Laurie,

That is so useful to know. Each new country you come across, there is an entire new set of assumptions you need to make .

What is the best source for immigration records to Canada?

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You're welcome, Simon. And, yes, that's so true!

Here's a place to start: Library and Archives Canada, Irish Genealogy and Family History.

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Thanks Laurie,

It looks like it is going to be hard unless I come to Canada and swim with the micro-fishies!

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LOL. Part of the problem, of course, is that the family had such common first names and sometimes officials stuck the "t" in the last name. I took a stab at the Talbot Settler records and the land records, but no luck so far.

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Was it the land grant or was it a request for the patent.  The term used for the original grant was 'located' since the grant was conditional.  They were expected to meet conditions like clearing a specified number of acres, erecting a dwelling and planting crops for a minumum number of years.  Once they met their settlement conditions, they applied to the Land Board for the patent.  The application needed to be certified by the local land agent.  The patent applications usually indicated when they were 'located'.  One of my ancestors was 'located' in 1828 but his land grant application is in the database dated 1842, which is when he applied for the patent.