The Home District Council was the municipal governing body for
York, Upper Canada
York was a town and second capital of the colony of Upper Canada. It is the predecessor to the Old Toronto, old city of Toronto (1834–1998). It was established in 1793 by Lieutenant-Governor John Graves Simcoe as a "temporary" location for th ...
(now
Toronto
Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...
,
Ontario
Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...
) from 1792 to 1849. It was established by
Lieutenant Governor of Ontario
The lieutenant governor of Ontario (, in French: ''Lieutenant-gouverneur'' (if male) or ''Lieutenante-gouverneure'' (if female) ''de l'Ontario'') is the viceregal representative in Ontario of the , who operates distinctly within the province bu ...
John Graves Simcoe
John Graves Simcoe (25 February 1752 – 26 October 1806) was a British Army general and the first lieutenant governor of Upper Canada from 1791 until 1796 in southern Ontario and the Drainage basin, watersheds of Georgian Bay and Lake Superior. ...
.
The leader of the council was known as the Chairman of the General Quarter Session of Peace. By 1849 the role was replaced by the Warden of
York County, Ontario
York County is a historic county in Upper Canada, Canada West, and the Canadian province of Ontario. It was organized by the Upper Canada administration from the lands of the Toronto Purchase and others.
Created in 1792, at its largest size, it ...
.
The council first met in Newark at Navy Hall in 1792, then to York after 1793.
Home District Council Chairmen
* Hon.
William Jarvis Esq.
Esquire (, ; abbreviated Esq.) is usually a courtesy title.
In the United Kingdom, ''esquire'' historically was a title of respect accorded to men of higher social rank, particularly members of the landed gentry above the rank of gentleman a ...
(b. 1756, Stamford, Connecticut - d. 1817, York, Upper Canada) 1800-1811
Mr. Jarvis was also provincial secretary and registrar of deeds
* Hon.
Thomas Ridout Esquire
Esquire (, ; abbreviated Esq.) is usually a courtesy title.
In the United Kingdom, ''esquire'' historically was a title of respect accorded to men of higher social rank, particularly members of the landed gentry above the rank of gentlema ...
(b. 1754 Sherborne, England - d. 1829, York, Upper Canada) 1811-1829
Mr. Ridout was also
Clerk of Peace
A clerk is a white-collar worker who conducts general office tasks, or a worker who performs similar sales-related tasks in a retail environment. The responsibilities of clerical workers commonly include record keeping, filing, staffing service ...
of the Home District 1800-1811,
Surveyor-General
A surveyor general is an official responsible for government surveying in a specific country or territory. Historically, this would often have been a military appointment, but it is now more likely to be a civilian post.
The following surveyor gen ...
of Upper Canada
*
William Allan Esquire
Esquire (, ; abbreviated Esq.) is usually a courtesy title.
In the United Kingdom, ''esquire'' historically was a title of respect accorded to men of higher social rank, particularly members of the landed gentry above the rank of gentlema ...
JP (b. 1770, Huntley Aberdeenshire, England - d. 1853, Toronto, Province of Canada) 1829-1831
*
Alexander Macdonell Esquire
Esquire (, ; abbreviated Esq.) is usually a courtesy title.
In the United Kingdom, ''esquire'' historically was a title of respect accorded to men of higher social rank, particularly members of the landed gentry above the rank of gentlema ...
JP (b. 1762 Aberchalder, Scotland - d. 1842 Toronto, Province of Canada) 1831-1834
** Mr. Macdonell was also
Sheriff
A sheriff is a government official, with varying duties, existing in some countries with historical ties to England where the office originated. There is an analogous, although independently developed, office in Iceland that is commonly transla ...
of the Home District, who was responsible for order in the town
See also
*
Toronto City Council
Toronto City Council is the governing body of the municipal government of Toronto, Ontario. Meeting at Toronto City Hall, it comprises 25 city councillors and the mayor of Toronto. The current term began on November 15, 2022.
Structure
The cur ...
- one of the succeeding bodies in 1834 and headed by Mayor of Toronto
*
York Regional Council
York Regional Council is the political body for the Regional Municipality of York in Ontario, Canada. Created in 1970, it consists of 20 elected representatives plus the Regional Chair. The elected members are the mayors of each of its nine munici ...
- from 1834 to 1970 as York County Council; headed by York Regional Chair, which replaced the Warden of York County 1850-1970)
References
* ''The Town of York 1793-1815'' by Edith G. Firth, Champlain Society 1962
* ''The Town of York 1815-1834'' by Edith G. Firth, Champlain Society 1962
Municipal government of Toronto
1792 establishments in Upper Canada
1834 disestablishments in Upper Canada