108 CANADIAN LOCAL HISTORY : 



wiU be expected, or the same for one moiety of each purchase, and bonds properly secured 

 for principal and interest, until paid, for the other. The prices may be known by application 

 to the proprietor at York. Peter Russell." 



An idea of the prospective value of property in Canada had clearly da-mied upon the mind of 

 Mr. Russell in the year 1803 ; and he aimed to create for himself speedily a handsome fortune. 

 His plans, however, in the long run, came to little, as in another connexion, we have heard 

 already. Survivors of the early period of Upper Canada have been heard sometimes to express, 

 like Lord Clive, after his dealings with the rajahs, their surprise that they did not provide for 

 themselves more largely than they did, when the broad acres of their adopted country were to 

 be had to any extent, almost for the asking. But this reflection should console them ; in few 

 instances are the descendants of the early very large land holders much better off at the present 

 hour than probably they would have been, had their fathers continued landless. 



Mr. Russell's estate passed at his decease, as we have elsewhere stated, to his sister, Miss 

 Elizabeth Russell ; and from her at her decease, to Dr. W. "W. Baldwin. 



At the beginning of Peter Russell's advertisement of properties, it will have been observed 

 that he oifered for sale " an excellent dweUing-house in the town of York," described as being 

 in the occupation of Mr. John Denison. The building referred to, situate, as it is further 

 mentioned, on a " front town lot, with a very convenient water-lot adjoining," was the " orna- 

 mental cottage " noted in our journey along Front Street, as having been once inhabited by 

 Major Hillier of the Vith. On its site was afterwards built Dr. Baldwin's town residence, 

 which subsequently became first a Military Hospital and then the head office of the Toronto 

 and Nipissing Railroad. But Peterfleld was also associated with the history of Mr. Denison, 

 who was the progenitor of the now numerous Canadian family of that name. Through an 

 intimacy with Mr, Russell, springing out of several years' campaigning together in the American 

 Revolutionary war, Mr. Denison was induced by that gentlemen, when about to leave England 

 in an official capacity in company with General Simcoe, to emigrate with his family to Upper 

 Canada in 1792. He first settled at Kingston, but, in 1796, removed to Y"ork, where, by the 

 authority of Mr. Russell, he temporarily occupied Castle Frank on the Don, He then, as we 

 have seen, occupied "the excellent dweUing-house " put up " on a front lot" in the town of 

 York by Mr, Russell himself ; and afterwards, he was again accommodated with quarters by 

 his friend in the newly-erected homestead of Peterfield. 



We have evidence that in 1805 a portion of Peterfield was under cultivation, and that under 

 Mr. Demson's care it produced fine crops of a valuable vegetable. Under date of York, 20th 

 December, 1805, in a contemporary Orach, we have the following advertisement : " Potatoes : 

 To be sold at Mr, Russell's Farm at Peterfield, by Mr, John Denison, in any quantities, not less 

 than ten bushels, at Four Shillings York Currency the bushel, if delivered at the purchasers, 

 houses, or Three Shillings the bushel, if taken by them from the Farm." 



Our own personal recollection of Mr, Denison is associated with Peterfleld, the homely 

 cosiness of whose interior, often seen during its occupancy by him, lighted up by a rousing 

 hospitable fire of great logs, piled high in one of the usual capacious and lofty fire-places of the 

 time, made an indelible impression on the boyish fancy. The venerable Mrs. Sophia Denison, 

 too, Mr. Denison's better half, was in like manner associated in our memory with the cheery 

 interior of the ancient Peterfield farm-house — a fine old English matron and mother, of the 

 antique, strongly-marked, vigorous and sterling type. She was one of the Taylors, of Essex ; 

 among whom, at home and abroad, ability and talent, and traits of a higher and more sacred 

 character, are curiously hereditary. We shall have occasion, further on, to speak of the 

 immediate descendants of these early occupants of Peterfleld. 



On the south side of the expansion of Queen Street, in front of I'eterfield, and a little beyond 

 Peter Street (which as we have previously noticed had its name from Peter Russell) was the 

 abode of Mr. Dunn, long Receiver-General of Upper Canada. It was (and is) a retired family 

 house almost hidden from the general view by a grove of ornamental trees, A quiet-looking 

 gate led into a straight drive up to the house, out of Queen Street. Of Mr, Dunn we have 

 already discoursed, and of Mrs. Dunn, one of the graceful lady-chiefs in the high life of York 

 in the olden time. In the house at which we now pause was born their famous son, Alexander 

 Roberts Dunn, in 1833 ; who not only had the honour of sharing in the charge of the Light 



