Family of William Hutchinson and Susanna Law

William (?-?) married Susanna LAW (1797-?), daughter of William LAW and Ann YEOMAN, at Whitby on January 29, 1821

The family emigrated to Canada in 1832 on board the Columbus from Whitby to Quebec. There is a reference in a letter from John Dixon who was on the Columbus that left Whitby in 1832 who wrote to George Dixon of Darlington after he reached Canada – in the letter he makes reference to William Hutchinson and his youngest child being ill on May 13th. It then mentions the child died on May 14th and was buried at sea. I think the child who died at sea was Francis Hutchinson b. November 24, 1831 in Whitby, North Yorkshire to William Hutchinson and Susanna Law.  Once they arrived in Quebec they boarded the Chambly Steamer on May 30, 1832 arriving in Montreal on June 1, 1832.  From there they would have had to board another ship for the journey to the Town of York (Toronto).

The family's first record in Canada is an agreement of purchase dated December 31, 1832 recording the fact that William Hutchinson purchased 50 acres of Lot 12, 10th Concession, (part of the east half of the lot) Toronto Gore Township, Peel County from Patrick Bulger for £40.  Interestingly a John Hutchinson also witnessed the document.  This document is found in the Township Papers for Toronto Gore Township as the agreement was executed before Patrick Bulger had been granted the patent for the land.  In effect, Bulger promised in the document to convey the lands to William Hutchinson when he obtained his land patent from the Crown.  However, William did not hold the land for very long choosing to sell his interest in it to William Campbell for £30 (at a loss of  £10) on October 15, 1833.  Interestingly he signed the two legal documents with slightly different signatures.  Why he sold his interest in the land for a loss is a mystery.

On August 22, 1833 Thomas Hutchinson, aged 4 days, son of William Hutchinson and Susana Law was baptized in St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church in Toronto Gore Township, Peel County.   The sponsors were Rev. Lalor and Mary Kelly of the Gore.

William signed a petition in Toronto Gore Township in 1834. The 1837 Directory for the Home District lists him as living on Lot 15, Concession 11, Toronto Gore Township, Peel County.

According to the information I have they had the following children:

William in 1823 (according to the IGI he died 10 days after his birth), Ann in 1825, Margaret in 1827, Francis in 1829; Francis in 1831. Both of their sons named Francis died however. The one born in 1829 in England and the one born in 1831 on board the Columbus on the voyage to Canada in 1832. There was also a son John though I am not sure when he was born.

On April 15, 1844 John Hutchinson married Harriet Bell in St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church in Wildfield, Peel County. They later had children baptised – William (3 weeks old March 23, 1845 – sponsor was Matthew Harrison (my gggrandfather) –John (3 weeks old Jan 10, 1847 – sponsors were William Harrison and Mary Harrison (William and his wife Mary O’Connor). This family later moved to Grey County - Collingwood Township by 1852 - living on S 1/2 of Lot 17, Concession 12 - as they appear in the census taken that year - though Harriet was away when the enumerator came by and is listed with the family of Patrick Burns nearby. In the 1871 Census they are living in Euphrasia Township, Grey County. Harriet Bell (named Margaret in cemetery records) died on May 17, 1879 and is buried in Thornbury-Clarksburg Union Cemetery, Collingwood Township, Grey County (present day Town of Blue Mountains).  On June 21, 1880 John married his second wife Alice McDonald daughter of Thomas McDonald and Martha York in Meaford. On the marriage certificate for his second marriage he listed his parents as William and Susanna Hutchinson. Therefore he must be the son of William Hutchinson and Susanna Law. However I have not found a record of his baptism. John last appears on the 1891 Census for Euphrasia Township, Grey County. It appears that after they moved to Grey County they became Methodists.  He died in Grey County on November 18, 1903 and is buried in the Thornbury-Clarksburg Union Cemetery.  His is listed as being a native of Yorkshire, England.

On July 20, 1845 there is the baptism of Ann 4 days old of the marriage of William Huchson and Margaret Talbot, Pinegrove. This is in the parish records of St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church in Wildfield, Toronto Gore Township, Peel County. Could this be the same William in Grey County in 1852? If so where are Margaret and their daughter Ann? Could this be the son of William Hutchinson and Susanna Law baptised on August 15, 1823 at St. Hilda's Roman Catholic Church in Whitby, North Yorkshire, England? According to the IGI he died on August 25, 1823. Of could he be another Hutchinson relative?

The following information is in the 1852 Canadian Census for Euphrasia Township, Grey County

- William Hutchinson, aged 25 years b. England, Roman Catholic
- Mrs. Hutchinson, aged 50 years, widow, b. England, Roman Catholic

William is listed as single while Mrs. Hutchinson is listed as widowed and is listed as not a resident of this family suggesting that she actually lived somewhere else and was just visiting. Or did the enumerator make a mistake and should have included her in the list of family members even if she lived somewhere else? Both were born in England. It also indicates in Mrs. Hutchinson's line that one death occurred in 1851. William was living in a one storey log house. Is William the son of William Hutchinson and Susanna Law born in England in 1823? According to the IGI he died in England 10 days after his birth. Is he another Hutchinson relative? Is Mrs. Hutchinson his mother (Susanna???). Where are all the other children? If Susanna was born about 1800 (married in 1821) then this Mrs. Hutchinson being 50 is about the right age for Susanna. Could she have gone to live with her son when her husband died and was buried in Toronto (if the William below is him?).

There is a William Hutchinson, b, England, d. Aug 7, 1854 buried in St. Paul's RC Cemetery in Toronto (same as above?). Is this the husband of Susanna Law?