Petitions

And your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray . . . .

Under these words, Oxford citizens signed their names or made their mark, thereby participating in the process of petitioning. Petitions received by County Council from individuals and groups were the primary means by which the people of Oxford lodged complaints, made requests, or expressed support, and thus are a valuable record of what occupied the hearts and minds of Oxford citizenry through the years. The opportunity to be heard by one's government, so fundamental to democracy was afforded by petitioning.

County of Oxford RG2
Series 4 Clerk
Subseries A Petitions

This subseries also contains petitions (often called memorials) to the Legislative Assembly or House of Commons from Oxford County Council. These memorials are a record of the Council's stand on numerous diverse issues, such as legislating hard labour for vagrants in the Common Gaol (1875) or disputing boundary shifts (1850).

A wide assortment of concerns is reflected in these petitions. The building and repairing of roads and bridges, education, and tax disputes are common issues. The emotions behind the pleas travel the spectrum from compassion to moral outrage.

1850
East and West Oxford, for boundary line
Blandford and Blenheim, Townline impassable
East Nissouri, bridge impassable
West and North Oxford, Conc.1 Lot 27 W.O. bridge unsafe
Embro, for erection as Police Village
East Oxford, John Andrew, Conc.1 Lot 20 taxed for wrong school section, also John Hatch
Blenheim SS#19, Blandford SS#4, for boundary change
to Legislative Assembly, for no removal of Burford and Oakland
West Zorra SS#12, for apportionment
Matthew Brown, West Zorra, for refund of tax overpayment
West Zorra Union SS#15, for payment of East Nissouri share of school erection
John Bain, East Oxford Conc.1 Lot 19, overtaxed on workshop
Thomas Baker, East Oxford Conc.1 Lot 7, overtaxed
Harriet Menzies, Woodstock widow with small grocery shop, overtaxed
Ann Love, for tax refund
East and West Oxford, for boundary line per Jones' Survey
Richard Hague, Blandford, overtaxed
Registrar James Ingersoll, for refund for costs, painting Registry roof

1851
Angus Campbell, West Oxford, for tax refund on still
Caleb Fowler, Burford Conc.6 Lot 5, re mortgage
North Dorchester, protesting Union under Territorial Divisions Bill
West Oxford, for rebuilding of Conc.4 Lot 18 bridge
T. Shenston, for retention as Clerk
Joshua Lavoisier Hardy, East Oxford SS#2 teacher 1846, for unpaid salary
Dereham, for rebuilding of Conc.1 Lot 14 bridge
West Oxford SS#2 and SS#3 Trustees, recommending Rev. Wm. Freeman, Beachville, as Superintendent
West Oxford, recommending Rev. Robert Wallace as Superintendent

1852
Ingersoll, dangerous bridge
North Blenheim and Blandford, for road allowance around Townline pond
Arthur Miller, Woodstock, dangerous lightning rod at gaol and Court House
John Douglass, "British American" newspaper, overdue account of defunct Board of Health
Dereham and West Oxford, dangerous bridge Dereham Conc.1 Lot 14, asking to commute statute labour to fix it
gaoler George Forbes, inadequate accommodation at new gaol
R. Foquett, for permission to rent fairground acres north of Court House for crops
to Legislative Assembly, for Act legalizing District of Brock by-law re taxation
draft re Militia Law, for compulsory enrollment, exemption from jury duty
Blenheim School Trustees, for re-appointment of local Superintendent, Rev. George Murray
East and West Oxford, boundary line closed due to swamp and bad hill
Sheriff James Carroll, for repairs to Governor's Road
County Clerk W.H. Landon, for salary increase

1853
Blandford, impassable road on Wilmot Townline
Blenheim, for road around pond, Conc.7 Lot 24
John Burn, Dereham Conc.12 Lot 6, for use of timber on road allowance for mill
East and West Oxford, for opening of Townline between Woodstock and old stage road
Sheriff Carroll et al, dangerous section of Governor's Road
Richard Foquett, Clerk of Court, Deputy Clerk of Crown, reimbursement for office fuel
Nissouri and Zorra, for survey of Townline with Perth
John Carroll and James Carroll, Zorra, for funds to level impassable hills on Dundas Street
Sheriff James Carroll, for reimbursement of conveyance costs

1854
gaoler Robert Hughes Cummings, for investigation into Grand Jury charges against him
Norwich, endorsing survey of Townline
Ingersoll Board of the County of Oxford Grammar Schools, for financial support for Ingersoll Grammar School
F.A. Peck, map peddler, for removal of licence fees
H.P. Brown, for increased price for peddlers' licences, Oxford overrun

1855
W. Filey, for pre-payment for gaol construction materials
John McWhinnie, Sentinel proprietor, re publishing notice of Council meetings
stockholders, North Oxford and West Zorra Gravel Road Co., notice of formation
Directors, Woodstock and Norwich Plank and Gravel Road Co., for extension of time for road completion
John Millar, Blenheim, for permission to erect mill dam, Lot 6 Block A Wilmot, and for use of Townline

1856
West Oxford, for bridge funds, Beachville
Beachville, to compel Brantford and Ingersoll Road Co. to fix bridge
Robert Bird, Woodstock proprietor of British Hotel, for compensation for expenses incurred by drunk tenant setting himself on fire Directors, Ingersoll Northern Road Co., for extension of Charter
George Whitehead, for permission to rent Court House room for Division Court office
Wm. Filey, for payment, pressed bricks, gaol construction

1857
Norwich, for free license to Thomas Pritchard to sell books, maps, and school apparatus
to Governor General of BNA, for appointment of John Turquand as Gaol Inspector
trustees of Senior Grammar School, for permission to sell current property to erect suitable buildings

1858
Woodstock and Dereham Macadamized and Gravel Road Co., for by-law extending deadline for completion
for action to open Townline, Blandford and Blenheim, Conc.7

1859
to Governor General, for establishment of lunatic asylum in Woodstock

1860
to Governor General, for immediate action re dangerous state of Brantford and Ingersoll Plank and Macadamized Road
to Governor General, against separation for Registry purposes
Charles Mason, Beachville, for payment for statute labour, bridge work

1861
to Legislative Assembly, for support of education of deaf and dumb children
to Legislative Assembly, for provision in "Act Respecting Joint Stock Road Companies", re abandoned section of Paris and Dundas Road Co.
Clerk of the Peace, inconvenient office, suggests a covered staircase at west end
Woodstock Grammar School Trustees, for grant for meteorological apparatus
Registrar James Ingersoll, complaining of dust from brick floors
impassable road and log bridge, across Jerman's Creek, East and West Nissouri Townline
Blenheim, for rebuilding of bridge on County Line

1862
Arthur Middleton, Otterville Clerk, for financial aid for cataract surgery
West and North Oxford, Woodstock Oil Co. polluting Thames
Tillsonburg and Middleton Plank and gravel Road Co., for extension to complete work, under "Act Respecting Joint Stock Companies"
East and West Oxford, for grant to make township line road passable
Constables, for handcuffs
Blenheim, dangerous bridge on Governor's Road over Hornor's Creek, and dangerous road, Dundas and Paris Road Co.
East and West Oxford, for opening of southern part of Townline
Craib and Stuart, for compensation for loss installing gaol locks
5 complaints re James Izard, Inspector of Weights and Measures, incompetent and drunk

1863
John Lindsay, East Oxford Conc.2 Lot 19, impassable bridge
East Nissouri and West Zorra, for completion of Townline Road
for support for Mary Hurley, deaf mute attending Toronto school
caretaker Alex Stewart, for gaol prisoners' labour to carry wood
Captain Adam Oliver, for grant to erect militia drill shed in Ingersoll
Alex McLeneghan, for contract for printing Rolls
Oxford Teachers' Association, for one Superintendent rather than township

1864
John Tilt, Waterloo, to build dam on road allowance, Blenheim Conc.14 Lots 4,5
East Nissouri and Blanshard, dangerous road on County line
to Governor General, for free grants of Crown Lands
draft to the Legislative Assembly for Act to legalize grants to militia volunteers
primarily Blenheim, for bridge on County line across Smith's Creek
Waterloo, to allow John Tilt to build dam

1865
West Oxford, for speedy completion of Woodstock and Sweaborg Road
Warden Jacob Topping to Legislative Assembly, for Act empowering counties re provision for poor
Teachers' Association committee, for appointment of one Superintendent
to Legislative Assembly, for Act re equalized assessment
West Oxford, claiming misrepresentation in petition re Woodstock to Sweaborg Road, now advocating free road
West Oxford, for By-law to make Woodstock and Dereham Macadamized Road free
James Ingersoll, for stove and pipe, Registry Office
Tillsonburg, for By-law to erect Police Village

1866,1867
West Zorra, inconvenient Townline, north end of Conc.5
North Oxford, West Zorra, East Zorra, for improvements to Governor's Road
to Legislative Assembly, against change in County limits re South Norwich and Dereham
draft to Governor General (?), that County not be divided for registration purposes, no Registry Office for South Riding

1868
Embro Clerk John Thorne, re registration of by-law 126 re road openings
rebuttal of Thorne's petition, G. Gordon for amendment to By-law 126
Blenheim, dangerous road at Smith's Creek Bridge
to Lieutenant Governor, for stone monuments at concession line, South Norwich
Woodstock Grammar School Trustees, for grant and building repairs
North Riding of Oxford Agricultural Society, for admission fee to fairground
East Nissouri, for free licence to auctioneer Joseph Tait
East Oxford, impassable road, Conc.7, swamp

1869
Select Committee report re Kintrea proceedings
East Nissouri, for free peddler's licence for one-legged Thomas Kelly
to Lieutenant Governor, permanent monuments on concessions along Governor's Road, East Nissouri
to Lieutenant Governor, for survey of Conc.10 South Norwich
Dundas Street residents to Woodstock town council, for taxation to sink an artesian well

1870
James Carroll, West Zorra, re condition of Governor's Road
Directors of North Riding, Oxford Agricultural Society, to hold exhibitions on fairgrounds
Reeves, West and North Oxford, for funds to build bridge between Beachville and Centreville
G. Gordon, Embro, to connect road with Sutherland Street
request for payment of delinquent account, erection of drum heaters, Court House
to Senate, for import duties

1871
East Oxford, against By-law proposing to close portion of road allowance (266 signatures)
East Nissouri, controversy with North Oxford over share of costs for bridge at Thamesford
Alex Stewart, Court House custodian, for salary increase
Gaoler John Cameron, for venetian shutters in residence
to Legislative Assembly, for amendments not requiring Grand Jurors at General Sessions of the Peace
to Legislative Assembly, for amendment re responsibility for bridges
Board of Examiners of Public School Teachers, for salary increase
Embro Clerk, for copies of Provincial Statutes
Blenheim Reeves, for relief from bridge costs
East Zorra teachers, for appointment of W.J. McCausland, Inspector

1872
Woodstock High School Trustees, for division of County into High School Districts
Ingersoll Town Council, for reappointment of James Nixon as High School Trustee
Homer Pratt Brown for salary increase
Davey and Murray, carpenters, for payment, painting fence around gaol
appeal for funds to rebuild Marchmount Home for emigrant children, Hastings County
address welcoming Governor General upon first visit to Canada
Beaver Lacrosse Club, Woodstock, for use of fairgrounds for game with Six Nations team

1873
North Norwich, against proposed grouping By-law re Port Dover and Lake Huron Railway bonus
to Legislative Assembly, for amendments to Act re jury selection
Reeves and Deputy Reeves to Warden, for special meeting re railway bonus
to Legislative Assembly, re municipal fund, railway bonus, clergy reserve
East and West Oxford, for opening of road allowance
5 petitions for By-law re railway bonus, Port Dover and Lake Huron
East Zorra School Section 16, for larger area
Division Court Clerks, for reimbursement for books
to Legislative Assembly, for forest conservation

1874
to Governor General, address re loyalty to Crown
to Legislative Assembly, for amendments to Canada Thistle Act; for repeal of grouping powers re Railway bonuses
to Legislative Assembly, for amendments to Assessment Act re bank stock
to Legislative Assembly, for Act to legalize assessment rolls
to Parliament, for Medical Reform re standards of care
for school section near Bright
Presbyterian and Baptist Cemetery trustees, for land in trust

1875
Francis Nelson Cooper, indigent amputee in gaol, for aid to return to Ireland
Peter Carroll, Hamilton, re illegal sale of land, Dereham Conc.6 Lot 2
North Norwich, for delay in incorporation of Norwich Village
South Norwich, for survey, Conc.11,12
for incorporation of Village of Norwich
John Lillico, Blenheim, for compensation of legal fees re appeal of school section alterations
to Legislative Assembly, for Act authorizing vagrants in gaol to be put to hard labour
to Lieutenant Governor, for subsidy to Port Dover and Lake Huron Railway
to Lieutenant Governor, for aid to Credit Valley Railway
to Lieutenant Governor, for aid to Brantford, Norfolk, and Port Burwell Railway
to Legislative Assembly, for Normal School in Oxford
to Legislative Assembly, for repeal of amendment to Assessment Act
to Lieutenant Governor, for survey by stone monuments of South Norwich Conc.11,12
for census to incorporate Norwichville
Norwichville census, 827 inhabitants

1876
ladies of Woodstock, for temperance vote on Dunkin Act
Agriculture Societies, for grant, Centennial International Exhibition, Philadelphia
Lieutenant Colonel Corvan, for Treasurer's room for Oxford Rifles' stores
Blenheim, for replacement of bridge over Smith's Creek, township line, Goldie's Mill
Blandford SS#2, protesting Union School Section
Norwich Village, for by-law to carry out Dunkin Act (temperance)
Free Will Baptist Society, for by-law to enforce Temperance Act of 1864
for road repair and bridge, south of Woodstock

1877
Gaoler Cameron, for gas pipes and fixtures
for Provincial share of costs, gaol alterations
Wm. Henderson, for costs for apprehension of horse thief
Waterloo memorial to Legislative Assembly, for amendment re bridges over 100 feet
South Norwich, for temperance poll
Temperance Convention of Oxford, for by-law
to Lieutenant Governor, for supply of Statutes
Benjamin Holdsworth, unlawful tax sale of Norwich church lands
questioning tolls levied by North Oxford and West Zorra Gravel Road Co. on portion of Governor's Road, West Zorra Conc.6

1878
Gaoler Cameron, for gas fixtures in residence
caretaker Marion Stewart, for wallpaper
East Nissouri Conc.7, for grant to gravel one mile
West Zorra and Embro, for bridge to allow Conc.5 road opening

1879
to Oliver Mowat, for Statute re conveyance of prisoners
for bridge over Cedar Creek, Woodstock
Blenheim, for survey of Townline, Conc.1,2
East and West Oxford, for opening of Townline
to Legislative Assembly, for amendment re equalization of assessment
to Lieutenant Governor, for survey of Blandford/Blenheim Townline
to House of Commons, for law authorizing hard labour for gaol prisoners

1880
to Ministry of Marine and Fisheries, re obstruction in Thames
to Legislative Assembly, for amendment to Voters List Act
to Lieutenant Governor, for proper survey of Townline, East and West Nissouri
Malcolm McPherson, for auctioneer's licence transfer
Tavistock, for erection of Police Village
Oxford Rifles 22nd Battalion, for grant for helmets

1881
reasonable licence fee for Evelyn peddler Henry Bray
Woodstock and East Oxford, for road repairs
peddler's licence for Nathan Cove, injured toll keeper, T and T Gravel Road
Embro, for village lockup

1882
East Oxford, for amendments to Law re toll roads inspection
turnkey W.F. Ross, for salary increase
caretaker Marion Stewart, for salary increase
to Legislative Assembly, for Act repealing Jurors Act clauses
to House of Commons, for no amendment to Great Western Railway act of incorporation
to Lieutenant Governor, for survey, Blenheim Conc.1,2

1883
Oxford Fat Stock Club, for grant
Oxford and Middlesex, for selling road, Broken Front, West Oxford
Plattsville, for incorporation
to Legislative Assembly, for amendment to School Law for ballot system in Trustees' elections

1884
Henry Bray, Nissouri, for peddler's licence
North and West Oxford, for aid to remove obstructions causing flooding in River Thames
to Legislative Assembly, for refund of bonuses, Credit Valley Railway Co.
to Middlesex, against by-law closing portion of boundary road, West Oxford, which allows access to Thames for washing sheep (Oxford Fat Stock Club, for grant for prizes at Christmas Show
Treasurer H.P. Brown, for few days' holidays each year
Blandford, requesting Woodstock pay share of boundary line maintenance
turnkey Ross, for compensation for substitute during holidays
Dereham, complaints re state of Ingersoll and Tillsonburg gravel road
to Legislative Assembly, for refund of bonus, Credit Valley Railway
to House of Commons, for passage of McCarthy Act (standardization of railway freight charges)

1885
to House of Commons, for Act to standardize railway passenger and freight charges
to Council of Agriculture and Arts Association of Ontario, for Fat Stock exhibitions in Oxford
to Legislative Assembly, to amend Schools Act re Inspector's visits (to Legislative Assembly, to amend Law to allow hard labour for gaol vagrants
to Governor General, welcome to Canada
East Zorra SS#1 ratepayers, to appeal township by-law 305, increased taxes due to smaller section
East Zorra SS#10 Trustees, appealing Twp. by-law 305
East Zorra SS#15 Trustees, ibid.
East Zorra SS#13 Trustees, ibid.
East Zorra SS#11 Trustees, ibid.
East Zorra SS#6 Trustees, ibid.
East Zorra SS#8 Trustees, ibid.
Charles McDonald, Embro, for refund, redeemed swamp land bought for tax arrears
Oxford Fat Stock Club, for grant for Provincial Fat Stock Show, Woodstock
for appointment of Police Magistrate to enforce Temperance Act
Harrington, for free peddler's licence for one-armed neighbour Donald Reid
to other counties, for delegations to Ottawa re railway bonuses
to House of Commons, for refunds of railway bonuses
to House of Commons, to amend Act, allow hard labour for gaol vagrants

1887
to Legislative Assembly, protesting amendment re 100 ft. township bridges
to Legislative Assembly, for Act re compulsory lockups, not common gaol, for town prisoners
to Legislative Assembly, to amend Act re justice officials' salaries and appointments
to Legislative Assembly, for increase in annual grants to schools
to Lieutenant Governor, protesting toll bar near Woodstock on Woodstock and Ingersoll Gravel Road
to Lieutenant Governor, for arbitrator re toll road purchases
to House of Commons, for supplementary pay to volunteer militia

1888
to Governor General, for temperance legislation

1889
to Legislative Assembly, for standardized sleigh runner widths
to Legislative Assembly, to halt amendment to Assessment Act re non-resident lands
to consider House of Refuge {oversize}

1890
to Legislative Assembly, protesting any amendment transferring gaol administration to Province
to Legislative Assembly, for amendment to Public Schools' Act re grants
to Lieutenant Governor, for amendment to Municipal and Assessment Laws
for Council to petition Legislative Assembly re compensation for malicious property damage
to Lieutenant Governor, for law appointing Cheese Inspectors

1891
Blenheim, to Lieutenant Governor for appointment of arbitrator re bridges
to Lieutenant Governor, to appoint arbitrator re Blenheim
Fat Stock Club, for grant
to Legislative Assembly, to repeal section, re 100 ft. bridges

1892
recommending John McKay as Manager, House of Refuge

1893
Bowling and Lawn Tennis Clubs, for use of Court House grounds
East Zorra and Blandford, for bridge to facilitate opening of road, Blandford Conc.11, East Zorra Conc.17, with diagram
Plattsville and north Blenheim, recommending J.B. Steckle as Manager, House of Refuge

1894
North and West Oxford, for bridge over Thames at Wilton Crossing
to Legislative Assembly, for Act to validate By-law 373, authorizing issue of debentures for Court House and House of Refuge

1895
East Zorra, for grant for bridge repair, 11th line
for appointment of committee to consider prison reform

1896
West Zorra, for petitioning Legislative Assembly for amendments to Acts re year-end date for financial statements

1897
Women's Christian Temperance Union, for prison reform
William Martin, for appointment as Messenger

1903
Drumbo, for erection as Police Village
Thamesford, for erection as Police Village
Henry Green, Oriel, for removal of name from petition re Woodstock and Norwich Gravel Road
Henry Green, preserve name on petition
legal opinion re toll road petitions

1904
Beachville, for erection as Police Village

1906, 1907
Beachville, for erection as Police Village
Princeton, for erection as Police Village
Dereham, for opening of Townline
Plattsville, for erection as Police Village

1908
Tavistock, for incorporation
cover letter on Burk's Falls Lumber Co. letterhead
Tavistock, against incorporation
Bright, for erection as Police Village
Norwich, for larger watercourse

1913-1915
Innerkip, for erection as Police Village (1913)
West Zorra, for restoration of section of road, cut off by By-law 673 (1914)
East Oxford, for extension of County road (1914)
Dereham, North Norwich, South Norwich, for County assumption of Townline (1914)
Drumbo, for addition of land to Police Village (1913)
East Zorra, West Zorra, Tavistock, for repairs to section of county road, 12th line (1914)
East Oxford, for repairs to Old Hamilton and London Gravel Road (1914)
Burgessville, for erection as Police Village (1915)

County of Oxford RG2
Series 4 Clerk
Subseries A Petitions

This subseries is available on microfilm at the County of Oxford Archives.

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