Historical Atlas of the County of Middlesex, Ontario, H.R. Page & Co., Toronto, 1878

Putnamville, North Dorchester, Middlesex, Ontario

 "In the East Riding…Marcus Talbot was elected in 1857, and was soon afterwards drowned on the steamship Hungarian, while returning from England where he had just been married.  He was succeeded by Robert Craik, and afterward Hon. M.B. Portman sat for the East Riding until 1862…"

 1857 - Robert Craik held the office of "Wardenship."

 "There are several small villages in the Township [North Dorchester] among which may be mentioned Dorchester Station of the Great West Railroad, with a population of about 250, including Edwardsburg and Frampton; Harrietsville, with about 100 souls; Doon, about the same size, but partly in South Dorchester; Nilestown, of about similar extent and partly in London Township; and Putnamville, somewhat smaller.
 

Catalogue of Census Returns on Microfilm:  Dorchester (North), Middlesex

1851 - C11738
In 1851 - Population of North Dorchester
 1379 Males
 1191 Females
 2570 Total    336 were Westleyan Methodists

Robert Craik  - age on next birthday - 40,  farmer  - 1 story frame house
Catherine Craik - age on next birthday - 37
James Craik  - age on next birthday - 17,  labourer - born in Canada
William Craik - born in Canada - age on next birthday - 15
George Craik - born in Canada - age on next birthday - 13
Robert Craik - born in Canada - age on next birthday - 10
Mary Ann Craik - born in Canada - age on next birthday - 8
 

1861
Robert Craik - Farmer, Westleyan Baptist, 49 yrs old, one member in family
1 death in 1860 [would have been George]  age 21 - cause - heart ----[unreadable]

Catherine - 47 years old
James - 26 years old - carpenter
Robert - 19 years old - labourer
Mary Ann - 17 years old

 Agricultural Census Information
 1851
 1861
Item
 Acres 
Acres
Under cultivation 
56 ½
 76
Under crops 
37 ¼
57
Under pasture
 19 
10
Under wild or wood 
43 ½
  24
Under orchard or gardens
 
 4
TOTAL 
93 ¼
  95
Cash value  $4,000 
Cash value farm implements or machinery  $510 
 
 
 
1851 1861
Crops
Acres
Production
Acres
Production
Fall wheat
23
 450 Bushels
  12
 300 Bushels
Spring wheat
 
 
 9
100 B
Barley
3
100 B
Peas
 150 B
 6 
200 B 
Oats 
12
 470 B 
12
400 B
Indian Corn
 3 
75 B 
Potatoes 
½ 
 80 B 
1
 200 B
Turnips 
1
200 B 
½
500 B 
Carrots 
  100 B 
Hay 
 
12 Tons
 
14 Tons
Clover or other grass seed
 
 
 
4 B
Wool 
55 lbs
 
200 lbs
Maple Syrup
200 lbs
200 lbs
Flannel 
56 yds
20 yds
Fulled cloth 
200 lbs
Steers or heifers under 3 yrs
7
9
Milk cows
3
4
Butter 
 200 lbs
  200 lbs
Horses/Colts
 5 
under 3 yrs - 4, 3 colts
 value $330 
Sheep
22
22
Pigs 
10
6
Pork in barrels or quarts
1,000 
   Total value of livestock - $700
 in barrels of 200 lbs - 9
 Pleasure carriages - 4, value $90
 Value of produce in orchard or gardens - $10 

 

 
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