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A Brief History of Osgoode Township
In 1791, Canada was divided into Upper and Lower Canada, and John Graves Simcoe was the first Lieutenant-Governor. The first Executive Council meeting was held in Kingston, 3 July, 1792, and one of its members, the Honourable William Osgoode, Chief Justice of Upper Canada, was the man whose name was later given to the Township of Osgoode.In the years from 1799 to 1827, numerous grants of land in the Township were made by the Crown. Most of this was given out to sons and daughters of United Empire Loyalists; some were in recognition of military services; and some were to new settlers like Archibald McDonnell and William York.
Archibald McDonell, one of the two "first settlers", had arrived at his chosen location in March 1827, convinced that he was quite alone in the Township. He had hardly gotten settled when he discovered that William York had settled on Lot 21, Con. 9 on the same day he had come to Lot 25, Con. 8. They had both started from Cornwall on different routes for the same destination with their families on the same day, and they both arrived at that destination on the same day—each thinking himself the only settler in the Township for some time, till each accidentally discovered the presence of the other.
Other settlers began to join them, and soon the Township of Osgoode was thriving. They came from Scotland, Ireland, Britain and the United States to name a few, all bringing what they could carry through the bush to carve out a living in this wild new land.
The Township of Osgoode Crest was
designed in 1977, our Sesqui Centennial Year.
THE BEAVER represents the fur bearing animal
that brought in the early trappers. The Castor River in Osgoode Township
was also named after this animal (Castor is the French word for beaver).
THE LOG FENCE AND PLOUGHED GROUND above the
fence are reminders of the early farming settlers.
THE WHEEL is a symbol representing those who
arrived in wilderness country by steam or paddle boat.
THE STRIPS OF BLUE on each side of the wheel
stand for the two rivers running through the Township - the Rideau and
Castor rivers.
THE MAPLE TREES (to the left of the wheel)
bring to mind the pioneers making maple sugar and maple syrup.
THE PINE TREES (to the right of the wheel)
stand for the logging and lumbering carried out by our ancestors.
The Crest is encircled by a HORSESHOE, a
reminder of the animal used by the pioneers in inland travel, logging
and farming. The horseshoe holds forever the continued good luck in
Osgoode Township.
The CROWN representing the United Kingdom
The MAPLE LEAF representing Canada
The TRILLIUM representing Ontario
The whole crest represents the Township of Osgoode
For more information please visit
Osgoode Township Historical Society & Museum