Henry Jackson - The Man "Before" Thomas Montgomery.
Many of you know that Thomas Montgomery came to Etobicoke and built his now famous Inn on Dundas Street beside Mimico Creek around 1830. However, did you know that he wasn’t first person to occupy that land? For the 21 years prior to 1830, that land was leased to Henry Jackson, who lived there with his family, built a house, and cleared 50 acres of land. And when he left that land in 1830, he did so unwillingly.
Who was Henry Jackson? He was born in England ca. 1751 and had an extensive if chequered military career. Some of his claims of rank and service were false or exaggerated, making his history challenging to track. He did serve under Simcoe in the American Revolution as a Queen’s Rangers. When Simcoe re-formed the Queen’s Rangers in 1792 in Upper Canada, he served again, despite being at least 10 years older than the maximum of 30 they were recruiting. He rose from private, to corporal, to sergeant by 1794, but then was demoted back to private, rising to corporal again by 1795 and serving until 1802.
In 1801, Jackson (then age 50) married Mary Ann Hooton (age 17), daughter of William Hooton, a fellow Queen’s Ranger. The couple eventually had 13 children.
Jackson petitioned for land several times but there is no record of him receiving land until 1809 when he was granted leases on Clergy Reserve Lots 7 and 8, Concession B in Etobicoke. These lots covered the area from Bloor to Dundas, and from Islington to Royal York. He and his family lived and farmed the southern Lot 7, which would be the area south of the CPR tracks today.
Who was Henry Jackson? He was born in England ca. 1751 and had an extensive if chequered military career. Some of his claims of rank and service were false or exaggerated, making his history challenging to track. He did serve under Simcoe in the American Revolution as a Queen’s Rangers. When Simcoe re-formed the Queen’s Rangers in 1792 in Upper Canada, he served again, despite being at least 10 years older than the maximum of 30 they were recruiting. He rose from private, to corporal, to sergeant by 1794, but then was demoted back to private, rising to corporal again by 1795 and serving until 1802.
In 1801, Jackson (then age 50) married Mary Ann Hooton (age 17), daughter of William Hooton, a fellow Queen’s Ranger. The couple eventually had 13 children.
Jackson petitioned for land several times but there is no record of him receiving land until 1809 when he was granted leases on Clergy Reserve Lots 7 and 8, Concession B in Etobicoke. These lots covered the area from Bloor to Dundas, and from Islington to Royal York. He and his family lived and farmed the southern Lot 7, which would be the area south of the CPR tracks today.
Signature of Henry Jackson on his 1808 petition to lease Lots 7 and 8, Concession B, Etobicoke.
In 1816, Jackson sold the lease on the northern Lot 8 (where Inn is now) to Jacob Smith and Henry Post. This lease was then transferred four more times over the years. In early December 1829, Thomas Montgomery legally purchased the lease for Lot 8 from W. Meighen, the current lease holder.
Both Montgomery and Jackson submitted petitions to lease Lots 7 and 8 after the current leases expired on December 25th, 1829. Jackson explained that he resided on and had improved “upwards of 50 acres of Lot 7.” For Lot 8, Jackson claimed that when he assigned the lease to Smith and Post in 1816, it was “understood” that the lot would revert back to him when the lease expired, but this was not stated in the written lease transfer agreement.
In a review of Jackson’s petitions, government staff determined that Jackson no longer had any claim to Lot 8, but that he “appears to retain the right of renewal with Lot 7.” The matter was referred to the Executive Council for a decision.
Meanwhile, on December 18, 1829 – just one week before lease expiry - Thomas Montgomery was working on Lot 8 when Henry Jackson and one of his sons, “with force and arms entered onto Lot 8” and “ejected Thomas Montgomery from his farm and took possession.” Jackson was charged with forcible entry, found guilty, and fined £50. The Executive Council awarded the leases on both Lot 7 and Lot 8 to Montgomery. Although never stated in writing, Jackson’s rash behaviour on December 18th had certainly cost him more than the £50 fine.
Jackson and his family had to vacate the property immediately, likely moving in with Mary Ann’s family in southern Etobicoke. Undaunted, Jackson immediately petitioned for land near the mouth of the Humber River to open a “House of Entertainment” for travellers, but was refused. He then petitioned for 500 acres of land he claimed he was owed for his military service in England and as a Queen’s Ranger. He was refused again, and was advised that he was not entitled to more than 200 acres, which he had already received with the two clergy reserve leases in Etobicoke. Soon after this, he became proprietor of the Peacock Hotel, located on the southwest corner of Dundas and today’s Annette Street. Jackson died in 1840 at age 89. Mary Ann died 38 years later in 1878.
Researched and Written by Denise Harris.
Both Montgomery and Jackson submitted petitions to lease Lots 7 and 8 after the current leases expired on December 25th, 1829. Jackson explained that he resided on and had improved “upwards of 50 acres of Lot 7.” For Lot 8, Jackson claimed that when he assigned the lease to Smith and Post in 1816, it was “understood” that the lot would revert back to him when the lease expired, but this was not stated in the written lease transfer agreement.
In a review of Jackson’s petitions, government staff determined that Jackson no longer had any claim to Lot 8, but that he “appears to retain the right of renewal with Lot 7.” The matter was referred to the Executive Council for a decision.
Meanwhile, on December 18, 1829 – just one week before lease expiry - Thomas Montgomery was working on Lot 8 when Henry Jackson and one of his sons, “with force and arms entered onto Lot 8” and “ejected Thomas Montgomery from his farm and took possession.” Jackson was charged with forcible entry, found guilty, and fined £50. The Executive Council awarded the leases on both Lot 7 and Lot 8 to Montgomery. Although never stated in writing, Jackson’s rash behaviour on December 18th had certainly cost him more than the £50 fine.
Jackson and his family had to vacate the property immediately, likely moving in with Mary Ann’s family in southern Etobicoke. Undaunted, Jackson immediately petitioned for land near the mouth of the Humber River to open a “House of Entertainment” for travellers, but was refused. He then petitioned for 500 acres of land he claimed he was owed for his military service in England and as a Queen’s Ranger. He was refused again, and was advised that he was not entitled to more than 200 acres, which he had already received with the two clergy reserve leases in Etobicoke. Soon after this, he became proprietor of the Peacock Hotel, located on the southwest corner of Dundas and today’s Annette Street. Jackson died in 1840 at age 89. Mary Ann died 38 years later in 1878.
Researched and Written by Denise Harris.