Pioneer Settlers on the Lake Ontario Strand: The Wade Letters (1819–67)

2. The Executive Officers of the party number just over 130 and are supposed to meet twice a year. The Executive Committee of the Officers consist of 25 members who "perf~rm the duties and exercise the authority of the Executive Officers between meetings". 3. Mr. Roblin was badly advised by his organizers and came to the meeting not expecting to give a prepared Pioneer Settlers on the Lake Ontario Strand: The Wade Letters (1819-67) HOWARD PAMMETT It is fitting in this Centennial Year of 1967 to announce the discovery of the Wade Letters, written by two English emigrant brothers who farmed near Port Hope, Ontario, in the 48 years up to 1867. Robert Wade wrote for 30 years to family and friends in Durham County, England - mostly to his father John (who died in 1825), to his brother William (who died in 1823), to his sisters Margaret, Elizabeth and Mary, and to his youngest brother, Ralph. Ralph emigrated in 1845 to settle near Robert, and when the latter died in 1849, Ralph continued the correspondence until his own death in lt67.~ l: THE ENGLISH BAC~GROUND The Wade family tree begins with George Wade of Langley, County Durham, England, buried nearby at Staindrop in 1639. Five generations later, Margaret Wade (after her marriage to a Colpitts) emigrated to New Brunswick in 1782. In the next generation, her two nephews, Robert ~The author arranged with Mr. J. M. Vincent-Smith of London and Chesterfield, England, for a typescript set or the Letters to be sent to Canada for deposit in the Public Archives. Mr. Vincent-Smith's great-greatgrandmother was a sister of the letter writers, Robert and Ralph Wade. 16 speech. Luckily he was to speak last and had a chance to jot down notes while the other candidates were addressing the delegates. XXVIII (January, 1967), 25-38. 4. R. E. Neustadt, Presidential Power, New York 1962· Henry Fairlie, "The Life of Politics," Enc~unter: (born 1777) and Ralph (born 1797) emigrated to Upper Canada in 1819 and 1845 respectively, settling in the Port Hope district. 1 The Letters reveal little about the family background and fortunes, or the reasons that prompted Robert Wade to emigrate in 1819. Only a few facts are evident-they were probably a staunch farming family, had considerable capital, and were fervent Methodists. Robert married Mary Hodgson about 1802, and before they emigrated they had eight children - John (1804), Jane (1806), Mary (1807), Ann (1809), Margaret (1811), Ralph (1812), Elizabeth (1816), and William (1818). 1 Perhaps unsettled postwar conditions in England, with falling farm prices, and industrial unrest, determined Robert and Mary to take their growing family to the opportunities of a new country. II: THE VOYAGE OUT Robert Wade and family sailed from Sunderland on May 12, 1819, on the "William and Matthew" which carried 40 passengers. A week later the; were north of the Shetland Islands and out into the Atlantic. In his diary for May 29, when Robert noted that they had sailed 1,496 miles, he described their food supplies: In the cookhouse are two coppers and one oven and a large fireplace for the use of passengers ... by rewarding the cook with a little spirits he makes ready a good deal of our victuals; we brought two bus. of bread meal which we find very useful; potatoes and oatmeal also Revue d'etudes canadiennes Robert Wade for the children, being easily cooked; we make yeast so that we have brown and white bread. We bought a round of beef, and by dipping it in the sea a few times it kept fresh for nearly three weeks; tea and coffee are not good; oatmeal , barley and rice are best; raisins, prunes and preserved berries are very serviceable. The diary noted a storm lasting May 30 to June 9, a whale within 50 yards of the ship, and occasional ships passing eastbound. By June 7 the water was so bad it could only be used to make soup. On June 12, when they had sailed 2,329 miles, three other vessels were in sight. Fighting against headwinds, "we have run many hundreds of miles in tacking n.w. to s...