TORONTO OF OLD. 435 



of a spire on Gould Street. On that occasion several compasses had to be successively taken 

 up and tried before the workmen could be convinced that " north " was so far " east " as the 

 needle of each instrument would persist in asserting. 



The first possessor of the lot on the west side, slightly augmented in the manner just spoken 

 of, was the Baron de Hoen, an ofliuer in one of the Gennan regiments disbanded after the 

 United States Revolutionary war. His name is also inscribed in the early maps on the adja- 

 cent lot to the north, known as No. 1 in the township of York, west side. At the time of the 

 capture of York in 1S13, Baron de Hoen's house, on Lot No. 1, proved a temporary refuge to 

 some ladies and others, as we learn from a manuscript narrative taken down from the lips of 

 the late venerable Mrs. Breakenridge by her daughter, Mrs. Murney. That record well recalls 

 the period and the scene. " The ladies settled to go out to Baron de Hoen's farm," the narrative 

 says. " He was a great friend," it then explains, "of the Baldwin family, whose real name was 

 Von Hoen ; and he had come out about tlie same time as Mr. St. George, and had been in the 

 British army. He had at this time a farm about four miles up Yonge street, and on a lot called. 

 No. 1. Yonge street was then a corduroy road immediately after leaving King Street, and pas- 

 sing through a dense forest. Miss Russell, (sister of the late President Russell) loaded her 

 phaeton with all sorts of necessaries, so that the whole party had to walk. My poor old grand- 

 father (Mr- Baldwin, the father of Mrs. Breakenridge) by long persuasion at length consented 

 to give up fighting, and accompany the ladies. Aunt Baldwin (Mrs. Dr. Baldwin) and her four 

 sons. Major Puller, who was an invalid under Dr. Baldwin's care. Miss Russell, Miss Willcox, 

 and the whole cavalcade sallied forth : the youngest boy St. George, a mere baby, my mother 

 (Mrs Breakenbridge) carried on lier back nearly the whole way. When they had reached about 

 half way out," the narrative proceed.?, "they heard a most frightful concussion, and all sat 

 down on logs and stumps, frightened terribly. They learned afterwards that tliis terrific sound 

 was occasioned by the blowing up of the magazine of York garrison, when five hundred Ameri- 

 cans were killed, and at whioli time my uncle, Dr. Baldwin, was dressing a soldier's wounds ; 

 he was conscious of a strange sensation : it was too great to be called a sound, and he found a 

 ahower of stones falling all round him, but he was quite unhurt. The family at length reached 

 Baron de Hoen's log house, consisting of two rooms, one above and one below. After three 

 days Miss Russell and my mother walked into town, just in time to prevent Miss Russell's house 

 from being ransacked by the soldiers. All now returned to their homes and ocsuijations," the 

 narrative goes on to say, '•' except Dr. Baldwin, who continued dressing wounds and acting as 

 surgeon, until the arrival of Dr. Hackett, the surgeon of tlie Sth Regiment. Dr. Baldwin said 

 it was most touching to see the joy of ulie poor wounded fellows when told that their own doctor 

 was coming back to them." It is then added : " My mother (Mrs. Breakenridge) saw the poor 

 Sth Grenadiers eome into town on the Saturday, and in church on Sunday, with the liandsome 

 Captain McNeil at their head, and the next day tiiey were out to pieces to a man. My father 

 (Mr. Breakenridge) was a student at law with Dr. Baldwin, who had been practising law after 

 giving up medicine as a profession, and had been in his offlje aboi;t tlu-ee months, when he 

 went off like all the rest to the battle of York." The narrative then gives the further parti- 

 culars : " The Baldwin family all lived with Miss Russell after this, as slie did not like being 

 left alone. When the Americans made their second attack about a month after the first, the 

 gentlemen aU concealed themselves, fearing to be taken prisoners like those at Niagara. The 

 ladies received the American officers: some of these were very agreeable men, and were enter- 

 tained hospitably ; two of them were at Miss Russell's ; one of whom was a Mr. Brookes, 

 brother-in-law of Archdeacon Stuart, then of York, afterwards of Kingston. General Sheaflfe 

 had gone off long before, taking every surgeon with him. On this account Dr. Baldwin was 

 forced, out of humanity, to work at his old profession again, and take care of the wounded." 



Lot No. 1 was afterwards the property of an English gentleman, Mr. Harvey Price, a member 

 of our Provincial Government, as Commissioner of Crown Lands, whose conspicuous residence, 

 castellated in character, and approached by a broad avenue of trees, was a little further on. In 

 1820, No. 1 was being offered for sale in the following terms, in the Gazette of March 25th : 

 " That well known farm No. 1, west side of Yonge street, belonging to Captain de Hoen, about 

 four or five miles from York, 210 acres. The laud is of excellent quality, well-wooded, with 

 about forty acres cleared, a never failing spring of excellent water, barn and farm house. Appli- 

 cation to be made to the subscriber at York. — W. W. Baldwin." Baron de Hoen v/'as second 

 to Mr. Attorney-General White, lulled in the duel with Mr. Small in 1800 (January 3rd). In the 



