Fonds F 478 - Birdsall family fonds

The Birdsall family were immigrants from Yorkshire, England who settled in Peel and Peterborough counties, Ontario during the early nineteenth century. William Birdsall (1798-1876) settled in Meadowvale, Peel County, Ontario where he became a farmer, Justice of the Peace, and officer of the York militia. Richard Birdsall (1799-1852) emigrated to Asphodel Township, Peterborough County, Ontario in 1817 and was a land surveyor and agent for the Canada Company and the Upper Canada government.

William Birdsall (1798-1876) settled in Meadowvale, Peel County, Ontario where he became a farmer, Justice of the Peace, and officer of the York militia.

Richard Birdsall (1799-1852) was born at Thorton-le-dale, England, and educated at Londesbrough, Yorkshire. In 1817 he emigrated to Canada and in 1820 was commissioned to survey Newcastle District, where he was to remain for the rest of his life. In 1821 he married Elizabeth Burnham, daughter of Zaccheus Burnham. She died in a tragic fall in 1827 and he remarried 9 years later to Charlotte Jane Everett of Belleville. His work also includes the survey for the town of Peterborough. In 1831, he was commissioned Captain of the fourth Regiment of Northumberland Militia and he led the Asphodel contingent when the militia was called out in the Rebellion of 1837. He was an officer in the Peterborough Regiment and later he served as a Commissioner of the Court of Requests and a Justice of the Peace. In 1841, he was the councillor for Asphodel and from 1850, until his death, he represented Asphodel at the Peterborough County Council as its first Reeve.