1813 Williams Sketch of the ground in advance of and including York Upper Canada

“The War of 1812 resulted in the mapping of York in a different way. In this reconnaissance map, the military noted the natural features of the area instead of the survey lines and recorded actual buildings and streets rather than lot lines and road allowances.

Evidence of war is visible in the notation "frigate burnt" (central shoreline), a reference to the Sir Isaac Brock which was burnt to prevent its capture by the Americans. The disappearance of the centre part of the Parliament Buildings (southeast of the Old Town) was also a legacy of the war - it was burnt by the Americans when they captured York in 1813. [It has been pointed out to me that this is in error; the centre part did not exist then; only the wings were built in 1797. -N.] Most of the scattered and poorly protected buildings of the garrison were also destroyed.”

- Isobel Ganton & Joan Winearls, MAPPING TORONTO'S FIRST CENTURY 1787-1884

Click the image to view a full-size version (4MB).

Sketch of the ground in advance of and including York Upper Canada, by Geo. Williams, 1813.
Image courtesy Library and Archives Canada: NMC 22819.
Winearls, MUC no. 2035

Related is the following 1814 map by the same surveyor, George Williams: “Plan of the town and harbour of York”

This map, also completed after the War of 1812, shows outlines of the major buildings of the town of York, and highlights the location of various military structures through the town -- including the number of men. Scale: 10 chains to an inch.

Interesting points of note:

• the Blockhouse at Gibraltar point opposite Fort York
• the guardhouse on the spit - guarding versus a portage
• the 'flanking batteries to tete du pont' (!) (by Don River)

It features the same note (bottom left) as the above plan: "Accompanying Lt. Col. Hughes letter to Lt. General Mann, dated 16 August 1814." With both of these maps in hand, the Lt. General could refresh his understanding of the strategic and tactical environment at York with a glance. [Note: This would be Gother Mann, earlier responsible for the 1788 “Plan of Torento Harbour”.]

Click the image to view a full-size version (PDF).

Plan of the Town and Harbour of York, by George Williams, 1814.
Image courtesy Library and Archives Canada: NMC 21771. Winearls, MUC no. 2037

Meanwhile, the Toronto Public Library has this copy, which appears to be of more recent vintage (click to view full size):

Plan of the Town and Harbour of York, by George Williams, 1814.

Image courtesy of Toronto Public Library: T1814/4Mlrg

‘George Williams was a member of the semi-civilian corps of Royal Military Surveyors and Draughtsmen, a unit set up exclusively for the purpose of making maps and instructing cadets of the Royal Engineers in map-making.’ - Ganton/Winearls, ibid.

Gratuitous bonus: Arrival of the American Fleet (click to view large version):

Bird's-eye view looking northeast from approximately foot of Parkside Drive, showing arrival of American fleet
prior to capture of York, 27 April 1813. (Painting by Owen Staples circa 1914). Courtesy TPL

Key to this image [The numerals are visible in the large version]

A simplified overview of the action:

Map of York. From The Pictorial Field-Book of the War of 1812 by Benson Lossing [1869].
Map courtesy Archives of Ontario. Reference Code: 971 .034 LOS, page 590

Bonus #2: Garrison Reserve Sketch
The following sketch shows the relationship of the town, Fort York, and the Garrison Reserve, in 1816. Note that the indicated 'Dundas' street later became Lot, which became Queen.

Garrison reserve [ and ] town of York. 1816. Creator unknown.
Image courtesy Toronto Public Library: T[1816]/4Msm

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