| Last Name: | Baldwin |
| First Name: | Augustus |
| Second Name: | Warren |
| Third Name: | |
| Title: | ADMIRAL |
| Sex: | Male |
| Birth Date: | 1776 |
| Birth Place: | |
| Death Date: | 1866 |
| Death Place: | |
| Education: | |
| Residence: | |
| Occupation: | |
| Closest Friend: | |
| Neat Traits: | |
| Misc. Information: | Toronto |
| Branch: | Unassociated |
| Notes: | From City of Toronto By-law No. 408-2000
http://www.city.toronto.on.ca/legdocs/bylaws/2000/law0408.pdf
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Forest Hill:
With the establishment of the Town of York in 1793, Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe
directed the division of lands north of the townsite into a series of lots. The portion between
present-day Queen and Bloor Streets was surveyed into over 30 park lots, while the concessions
between Bloor and Eglinton were arranged in a series of 200-acre farm lots. The allotments were
distributed to government officials as the location of country estates.
Farm Lot 23, located north of St. Clair between Yonge and Bathurst Street, was awarded to
Peter Russell, the Receiver General of Upper Canada and, by 1796, the administrator of the province.
In 1817, Russell’s sister, Elizabeth, sold the lot to Augustus Warren Baldwin (born 1776), her
cousin’s son and an admiral in the British navy. Admiral Baldwin was the brother of Dr. William
Warren Baldwin who developed his estate, “Spadina”, on adjacent Lot 24. In 1818, the admiral built
a house on the property that he named “Russell Hill” in recognition of his birthplace near Cork,
Ireland. Following his retirement from the British navy in 1836, Admiral Baldwin moved permanently
to his estate. When Baldwin died childless in 1886, his brothers and their heirs inherited the property.
At the end of the 19thcentury, historical maps mark the lands as the “Baldwin Estate”.
When the Baldwin lands were divided into building lots, the family imposed a restrictive covenant on
the area. New housing was detached, constructed of masonry, designed by an architect, respected
a 30-foot setback from the adjoining streets, and had a value of no less than $5000.
=====================================================================
A reference found at:
http://www.infused.org/genealogy/docs/recollections.htm - March 2004
Text of letter copied here.
Recollections of 1837/38 by JCT Cochrane
PRIVATE
Brockville, Dec. 22, 1883
My Dear Sir
I cannot send the enclosed without an apology for its length and I fear it is not exactly in the form you may desire.
I do hope, however, you will have the kindness to excuse that as I did not care to trouble you by asking instructions in the matter.
Under the circumstances I trust you will kindly excuse me if I have trespassed too much on your time and patience.
With best wishes of the season, believe me my dear sir -
Yours truly
J. C.
Col. Powell
Adjt. General of Militia Ottawa
Recollections of 1837/8
On the morning of Dec 1837 (the exact date I forget) when the rebels under Wm Lyon Mackenzie made their advance on Toronto, I was out shooting in the woods, about 3 miles from the city, near Russell Hill, then the residence of the late Admiral Baldwin with whom I was residing.
(Admiral, at that time Capt Augustus Baldwin R. N. and my father, Capt Thomas Cochrane of the Royal Scots, had been intimate friends and lived together, many years before, in London, Eng. after the Peninsular Wars and on the Declaration of Peace.)
I suddenly came upon a picket of armed men who were preparing breakfast, a miserable looking lot. They were all armed with either spears, old muskets, rifles and shot guns.
I at once returned home, to give the alarm, and found that Capt Baldwin had, during my absence, been suddenly called to a meeting of the Executive Council at Government House in the city, he being one of the Council. Shortly after I reached Rusell Hill the rebels, to the number of about 200, came up to the house and took possession demanding food, etc. This I supplied to them, so far as the cellars would allow, and Mrs. Baldwin having in the meantime retired with the family to the adjoining residence (that of the late Hon. Robt Baldwin) and feeling satisfied that the party intended no mischief to either the house or its contents, I managed to escape, unperceived, to the city, through the fields and went direct to Government House to report to Capt Baldwin that I had accidentally heard that it was the intention of the party, on taking possession of the house, to have seized and kept him as a hostage.
I also explained to Capt Halkett(?) the Military Secretary of the Lieut Governor Sir Francis Head, that all of the chief leaders of the rebellion were with the party in Russell House, and that it would require but a few determined, loyal men to surround and capture them all. I also volunteered my services to guide such a party through the woods.
I was, however, informed that unfortunately, all the regular troops had been sent out of the city and that there was no available, trustworthy force to spare for the purpose.
I found the city in a great state of confusion and excitement, men to the market place, on King St East,
the Lieut Governor had established his headquarters, all sworn in by the Mayor and the magistrates, and then and accoutrements. Many of them, however, were fence" watching to ascertain which side was
where being supplied with arms evidently "on the most likely to succeed, and this fact, being clearly apparent, caused intense anxiety and doubt for several days.
(My subsequent doings are in fact, recited in my letter of the 22nd Dec 1883 to the Adjt General)
John Cochrane
Beauvoir, Brockville Dec 27/83
BROCKVILLE
Dec 22nd 1883
Dear Sir
Having noticed that it is proposed, in future, to note in the Militia List the past services of the Officers of the Canadian Militia I have the honour to submit the following record of my humble services since 1837/8.
During the first few days of the rebellion of that period, I served as a Gentleman Private in the bodyguard of the lieut Governor (Sir Francis Head) stationed in the market place, Toronto, until ordered to join the party of attack on Montgomerys Tavern up Yonge Street where the rebels had assembled in force. On our return the same evening, I joined the party ordered to the defence of the bridge over the Don River, East of the city.
The following day I was enrolled as a member of the Bank Guard in which company I served until appointed an officer in the "Queens Toronto Guard" of Incorporated Militia commanded by Major then mayor of the city.
In this corps I had the honour to serve for over ten months, our chief duties consisting in patrolling the city and the guarding of the prison in which were confined, at one time, over 300 prisoners.
In 1839 Col Cornell (?) Baldwin, having command of the 6th Prov. Batt'n of Active Militia, offered me a commission on the condition that I should enlist at least 30 men to serve in the Regt. This I succeeded in doing, from the ranks of the Sedentary Militia at Omemie under command of the late Lieut Col Cottingham. I had the recruits on foot, from Omemie to Headquarters Toronto via Peterboro and Port Hope, at my personal expense, was appointed a Lieut and I served in this Battn until it was disbanded. We were stationed on the frontier of Lake Erie at different stations, in detachments at Black Rock, Cartier Point, Stone House, Point Abino and Port Colborne as headquarters.
I now beg leave to submit the following list of commissions which I have had the honour to hold.
1837/8 Served as a Private (Gentleman Cadet) in the Bank Guard. I have no record of the exact date but presume the Militia records will show. This Coy was formed by Sir Francis Head, Lieut Governor of Upper Canada for the protection of the Bank of Upper Canada, Toronto, in which was deposited the public treasure and a large number of private valuable property. The Coy was drilled by the Supt Major of the 43rd Light infantry with a view to instructing the Cadets and to fit them for companies of the Militia.
June 1st 1838
Date of my commission as Ensign in the Queens Toronto Guard of Incorporated Militia.
April 10th 1839
Date of commission as Lieut in the 6th Prov Battalion.
March 17th 1851
Date of commission as Capt in the 4th Battalion of Sedentary Militia, York.
March 15th 1853
Date of commission as Major in the same battalion. It was during this last commission that the difficulty resulting from the "Trust Affair" occurred, and I volunteered to raise and command the Flank Company of the Battn, my offer being accepted by the late Col Dennison commanding this Regt. Most of the men had been enlisted and the, company complete when the order countermanding these formations was issued and we were disbanded.
Jan' y 12th 1863
Date of commission as Major of the 1st York Militia. Having left Toronto and removed to the Township of West York my exchange was made with the consent of the late Col Dennison of the 4th York.
April 25th 1864
Date of 2nd Class certificate from The School of Military Instruction Toronto.
Mav 7th 1864
Date of 1st Class certificate of same school.
March 10th 1866
Date official letter of Capt Carter (for the Adjt General) acknowledging my letter of the 8th inst offering my services during the Fenian Raid.
Dec 11th 1866
Date of letter from Capt Stuart (for the Adjt General) acknowledging receipt of my letter of the 8th inst and stating that he had recommended for the favourable consideration of the government the suggestion I had the honour to make that a portion of the Township of Harwick, on Lake Erie, called the Ronde Eau should be reserved for public, military and marine purposes and as a harbour of refuge for gunboats, shipping, etc.
Permit me, respectfully to add that although since my removal to Brockville I have had no opportunity to offer my humble services to the government, I am as ready and as able now as ever to perform my duty and loyally to obey any commands with which I may be honoured.
I have the honour to be Sir
your obedient servant
John CT Cochrane
Major, C. M.
Col. Powell
Adjt General of Militia Ottawa
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| Cemetery: | [RUSSEL HILL] |
| Section: | |
| Plot: | |
| Individual record created: | Jan 09, 2000 at 4:46:55 PM |
| Individual record last updated: | Mar 06, 2004 at 6:33:38 PM |
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