Sail to Oswego 150 Years Ago: Schooner Days MC (1100) Happier Bride’s Diary - 3

TORONTO HARBOR, June, 1805: Background: Town of York, between present George and Berkeley streets, Queen and Front. The present waterfront, with all its wharves, buildings, railway tracks, viaduct and highways, entirely invisible, its site covered by crystal clear water up to Front st., which runs raggedly along the natural bay shore. One wharf at the eastern end, another two miles west to the Garrison, where a big Union Jack flies at the head of a tall lopped pole; between them bulrushes, bush creek bouts, and clay banks, in one place 20 feet high.

Foreground: Foreign schooner Oswego Petty, which may have been smuggling in a cargo fo salt, or honestly unloading the bricks to build Quetton S. George's Frederick st. mansion, second brick structure in York. No matter, she is outward bound for home, with sails flapping in the light morning wind and dripping anchor just catted. On her railed quarter deck the cabin passengers, upper crust of Upper Canada, Capt. John McGill, the Government Commissary and his lady; Mr. McLean, Clerk of the House of Assembly, and Mrs. Anne MacDonnell, married five months, wife of the High Sheriff of the Home District, who is going to Long Island, N.Y., for her health and for a last visit with aged parents who live there.

Anne dictates to her diary, being her own private secretary and orthographer. She writes as well as most ladies in their twenties today, but she hates to double consonant.

"June 2nd - Got under way in the morning early and bid adieu to York. Our friends most all called to see me, to bid farewell.

"There is nothing very unpleasing in it when you leave them well and anticipate a short absence, and going one-self the sensation is not so felt as the being left, then we feel the lap(se) of society we valued and when traveling there is always some new object to occur - but York is a place I have so much partiality for, that I cannot leave without regret, tho 'tis my greatest wish to go."

Where did Anne MacDonald and her fellow passengers embark in the Oswego Peggy?

She is said to have described going down a river in a boat to meet the vessel, with an early morning mist shrouding everything from view, and herself very anxious about her skirt getting wet from the water under the deeply laden craft. She had been staying at the new-built house of the Hon. Duncan Cameron, with his sister, who, in homely phrase, "saw her off." This house, soon afterwards named Gore Vale for a new governor, was on the banks of the vanished stream still remembered in Toronto as Garrison Creek. Judged by the height of the banks in Gore Vale Park and Willowvale Park farther north, which mark the course of this winding stream, the creek may have carried a considerable volume of water in the early days.

It is known that salmon ascended it from the lake. It flowed around the north and east sides of Simcoe's Fort York, and entered the lake north of the west arm of the Island, Simcoe spoke of cutting a "canal" or channel for the use of the Garrison boats, apparently through the shoal or bar found at the mouth of the creek. It was also called Government Creek on early plans.

It may have been possible for all the passengers to have embarked with their considerable luggage at Gore Vale, and to have been towed down the creek to join the schooner at the Garrison. She may have been lying at the little King's wharf, just east of the fort, which became the Queen's Wharf, still well remembered, or she may have lain at anchor outside the harbor entrance in what were called York Roads.

Continuing the voyage and the diary:

"June 2nd - The wind easterly all day. At evening in sight of the town of Niagara.

"June 3rd - Only a few miles below (Niagara) beating about with a contrary wind. Mrs. McGill and myself very seasick./p>

"Capt. Ford towards evening put about for Niagara, but the wind shifting, he again said for our direct port.

"June 4th - Forty miles below Niagara, the day calm. We dined on deck though a little sickly, and drank to the King's health, and to our absent friends.

"At evening the wind favorable, and on the 5th at six o'clock in the morning we arrived at Oswego."

Like other voyagers these travelers carried their own provisions, food in baskets, including tea and sugar, and wine by the case. They also brought their own bedding and rugs. One was only sure of salt port and hard biscuit on board, although fish might be caught. The reason for the King's health on Jun 4th was this was King George III's. birthday. "God Save Great George Our King" was the appropriate British toast.

Some account of the government schooner which did not reach port in time to take these early passengers down the lake may bee expected - next week.