The following is the remnant of a minor controversy between Joel Stone and the Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada, Francis Gore. It seems that Stone sold Gore two horses, only to have them returned in poor condition by an unruly agent. Three documents are presented: 1) a rough copy of a letter from Stone to Gore or his agents, 2) a letter from one of Gore’s agents and, 3) A receipt for the horses. This dispute went on for almost a year. What is of interest is the tone and manner with which Stone addresses his superior. This is not the deferential Loyalist to his British master – this is a citizen demanding fair and equal treatment. Regardless of the station or status of his opponents, when it came to business, Stone diligently protected his own interests.
- 1st April 1807, Joel Stone to Gore's Agent
- 25th February 1808, Charles Jones (Gore's Agent) to Joel Stone
- Receipt from Joel Stone to Lt. Gov. Gor for stabling horses
1st April 1807, Joel Stone to Gore's Agent
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Leeds 1st April 1807
Dear Sir,
I must acknowledge I never was more Surprised in my Life than when I saw the Man Brown and the two horses which came to my house the 28th March_ all appeared to me like a Vision _ I could scarsly believe my own eyes _ Brown was tipsy and the Horses almost Starved _ When I saw your letter I gave Brown the following receipt and Put the horses into the stable
Leeds, March 28th 1807
received two Bay horses Delivered to me by Jonathan Brown and Sent to me by His Excellency Governor Gore of Upper Canada (as Brown aforesaid Informs me) and I have agreed to Keep them for his Excellency untill I have his further orders___
I have not the time to Deetale the particulars _ I can assure you there is not any lameness or appearance of lameness on either of the Horses now _ notwithstanding the very Ill manner they must have been treated by Brown and I appeal to every Neighbour and every person that ever saw the Horses while I owned them that they never had any lameness of any sort or nature except a slite flesh wound one of them got when I rode him to Court at the time you was last at my house __ one of them Horses Cost me £ 16,,5,, when 3 years old _ the other I bt [bought] at 4 years of age and paid for him £23,,15,,
and I kept them both two years and did very little work with them and of cours the Horses have cost me much a greater Sum than I received for them __ Still what I have recd [received] I have spent and laid out _ therefore (was I so inclined) I cannot give back the Money _ there is many thing [unclear] to make it Singular unreasonable _ For Instance at two separate times after I promised you to send them up, provided the Governor was not Supplyed I was offered fifty pounds for them at my own Door a Mr.Hedger on his way from Quebec to Bay Quinty was the first __ Col. Murray and Major Robinson was the second _ I refused the same Money from each of these Gentlemen _ solely on Aid of what I had said to you _ and the horses never was sold or parted after I put them together until sold to His Excellency which was to their Credit and of cours what will their credit be now he has sent them back and I think there was time enough while my son was gon to the Grand River to try the Horses __ I am equally Desirous that the fare thing may take place with respect to the land business_ I would not give one straw to chuse between the land I have Demanded and the Acre I gace back_ I hope they will not keep both or keep me in suspense [unclear] the want of an Answer respecting the Oar [ore] business _ has greatly Disappointed me
Stone was seeking rights to mine Iron ore in Leeds County, but was concerned by the influx of so-called “Late Loyalists,” settlers from the United States, attracted by free land.
25th February 1808, Charles Jones (Gore's Agent) to Joel Stone
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Kingston February 25th 1808
Joel Stone Esq.
Sir,
On further consideration Gov. Gore, in order to prevent further trouble has concluded to take the horses now in your custody & by his request I have agreed with the bearer Mr. Anderson Post-Man to take them up to York _ I have a letter from Major Halton requesting you to give them up to me or my order, as I am now in Mr. Forsyths shop & the letter being up at Parson Stuarts, Anderson in a hurry, have it not in my power to include it but will deliver to you on my way down which will be in the course of 2 or 3 days _ I beg you will not fail of delivering the Horses to bearer as no other so good an oppy [opportunity] may offer this season you may rely on the authority above stated and shall see you on the subject on my way down
Your Most Obt. Servant
Chs. Jones
Receipt from Joel Stone to Lt. Gov. Gor for Stabling Horses
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Francis Gore Esquir
Lieutenant Governor of the Province of Upper Canada; to Joel Stone of Leeds in the same province
To keeping and tending two Bay Horses in Stable from the 28th Day of March 1807 to the first day of May following
33 Days @ 5 [shillings] pr. Day £ 8 ,, 5,, -
And to keeping the Same Horses
In the best pasture from the 1st Day of
May until the first day of November 1807
184 Days @ 2/6 £ 23,,0,, -
And to keeping and tending the Same
Horses again in Stable from the First
Day of November 1807 untill the 25th
Day February 1808; 116 Days @ 5s pr Day £ 29,,0 –
£ 60,,5,,0