Henry Van Every
ID # 6251, (1776-)
| Father | McGregor Van Every (1723-1786) |
| Mother | Mary Wilcox (1736-) |
| Birth | Henry Van Every was born in 1776. |
| Note | He Henry Van Every was living as of 10 May, 1796, when he petitioned John Graves Simcoe for a land grant. He states that his father was McGregor Van Every, late of Butler's Rangers. He states that his father has been dead about 8 years and that neither he nor his father had received a grant of land. He asks for four hundred acres. The request was originally entered for three hundred acres, but the three is stroked out and four entered. This is supported by a note from Andrew Bradt, later Captain in the Rangers and dated 17 May, 1796. The file cover indicates that Henry was recommended for 200 acres of land, which would have been standard for the child of a Loyalist. It may well have been aided by the support of Andrew Bradt, for it does appear that there was an issue as to McGregor's name not being on the Loyalist list. This was sorted out later, apparently in 1803. Henry was still living as of 1797. See notes under his father for he (Henry) is entered on a list of Loyalists in Niagara at the time. For the following, refer microfilm C-101, Book D, Vol. 22, pages 285-286. This is headed Delaware Township (in the London District) and is a letter from the Surveyor General to the governing council. It notes that a surveying mistake has been made with reference to the township and makes mention of land patents that this would affect. It names Henry Van Every and since this is dated 8 March, 1799, we must believe him to be Henry, son of McGregor Van Every. The concession and lot number is not provided, but it does suggest that Henry was still living as of this date. A further note: The information provided in the above and similar land books do not typically provide the actual land designation of the grant. A very old patent map, however, for Delaware Township (this is to be found on the Archives of Ontario's website), with a purported date of October 1851 written in (the map is certainly much older), shows Henry Van Every on lot 12 of concession 4. A history of this lot has yet to be found. That his name appears on this map and even (perhaps) on an abstract index does not mean that he actually lived there. An agricultural census for Delaware in 1851 does appear to have survived, but also appears to be incomplete. An 1842 Upper Canada census for Delaware may or may not be complete, but in any event does not show Henry. The website for Ontario Land Registry Access (onland.ca), apparently developed to assist the real estate industry, does show a 'Middlesex' patent book (a list of Crown patents). This has the look of pertaining to the old London District, but seems to be limited to townships for what became Middlesex and Elgin counties. This is simply described as Middlesex / Patent Book, with the vague comment: Moved from the Canada Land Tab. Under Delaware Township this lists the patent for Henry Van Every as being the same as shown above, lot 12 on the 4th concession. It dates the patent to April 5, 1797, and the grant included all 200 acres of the township lot. This book does not appear to be dated and in any event would not be intended to show the then current ownership of a given lot or to provide any indication as to whether the patent holder is living or dead. |
| Last Edited | 1 Jul 2018 |