Samuel Jarvis
Samuel Peters Jarvis (November 15, 1792 – September 6, 1857) was a Canadian government official in the nineteenth century. He was the Chief Superintendent for the Indian Department in Upper Canada (1837–1845), and he was a member of the Family Compact.
Life and career
Jarvis was born to
Jarvis was a member of the 3rd Regiment of York Militia during the
Jarvis was also appointed as a Clerk of the Legislative Council of Upper Canada. Having studied law before the war, he was
In the fall of 1815, Jarvis escorted his sister Eliza and Sarah Ridout to their boarding school in Quebec. Thomas Gibbs Ridout, who was living in Quebec at the time, paid for various supplies for Eliza and a year later accused Jarvis of owing him £100. Sam refuted this, asking the Ridout family to withdraw their accusation or accept a duel. John Strachan convinced Jarvis to withdraw his invitation to duel and the Ridout family to write a letter saying they misunderstood Thomas Ridout's version of events.[3]
Duel with John Ridout
In 1817 John Ridout was working as a clerk in his brother's law practice and visited Jarvis's office in relation to legal business.[4] Their conversation became heated and Ridout left in an angered state. The following Tuesday the two men argued again on the streets of Toronto. The next day Ridout attacked Jarvis with a bludgeon and militia had to stop the fight between the two men.[5]
Over the next few days, the two men agreed to a duel.[5] They met on July 12 at daybreak at Elmsley's farm, located near Yonge Street north of York.[6] The pair stood back to back, then took eight steps, turned to face each other, after which Jarvis's second Henry John Boulton began counting to three. Ridout misheard the count and prematurely fired on "two". Jarvis was livid at this violation of the agreement and after their seconds conferred Jarvis was allowed to take his shot, which killed Ridout.[7] Jarvis was arrested that day charged with murder.[8] Jarvis was acquitted, as all the formalities of a duel had been met, and the unspoken practice of the day was to acquit duellers.[9] It was the last such quasi-legal duel in Toronto.[10]
Later life
In October 1818 Jarvis married Mary Boyles Powell, the daughter of William Dummer Powell who presided over his trial for the shooting of John Ridout.[1][11] Around 1822 Jarvis moved onto land which he had inherited from his father, Hazel Burn, a 100-acre (0.40 km2) lot between Queen Street and Bloor Street. He cleared the southern part of the lot and erected an estate.[12]
On June 8, 1826, Jarvis and fourteen others, disguised as
Jarvis was named Chief Superintendent of Indian Affairs for Upper Canada in 1837, replacing
Jarvis and his wife had several children. A son, Samuel Peters Jarvis Jr. CMG (1820–1905), was a British Army officer (Major General) who served in South Africa and died in England.
References
- ^ a b c d "Loyalist Collection at the University of New Brunswick". University of New Brunswick. March 2005.
- ISBN 978-0-9696418-0-3.
- ISBN 978-0-9696418-0-3.
- ISBN 978-0-9696418-0-3.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-9696418-0-3.
- ISBN 978-0-9696418-0-3.
- ISBN 978-0-9696418-0-3.
- ISBN 978-0-9696418-0-3.
- JSTOR 1132814.
- ISBN 1-55002-448-5.
One other interesting fact about Samuel Peters Jarvis is that he holds the distinction of being the "winner" of Toronto's last duel.
- ^ Hugh A. Halliday (1 January 2005). "Hand Me My Pistol, Please". Legion Magazine.
- ^ "Samuel Jarvis's Estate, "Hazel Burn"". Toronto District School Board.
- ^ "The Baldwin/Mackenzie House". Toronto Green Community and Toronto Field Naturalists.
- ^ "Introduction to William and Samuel Jarvis Part 2". Toronto District School Board. Archived from the original on 29 June 2001.
- ^ Frederick H. Armstrong and Ronald J. Stagg. "MACKENZIE, WILLIAM LYON". Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online. University of Toronto.
- ^ ISBN 0-8020-3422-5.
- ^ "Samuel Peter Jarvis's Career in Government Comes to an Unpleasant End". Toronto District School Board.
- ^ "Hazelburn". Toronto Green Community & Toronto Field Naturalists.
- ^ "mean streets". The Rational Post. 8 June 2005.