CHARLES PRIOR (PRYOR)
by Ross W. Irwin
Almost as important as John Galt and Tiger Dunlop to the formative days of Guelph but very little is known of him. Below are abstracted items.
Canada Company Ledgers, Ontario Archive, Applications to work for the Canada Company.
"C. Prior accustomed to Land surveying, on a large scale and likewise to farming of all descriptions both scientific and practical".
Both Prior and Dunlop were hired prior to September 4, 1826. Dunlop was appointed "Warden of the Company's Woods and Forests in Upper Canada". Charles Prior was the "overseer (or manager) of the Guelph operations"
Prior assembled woodsmen at Galt to go to the site on April 23 and proceeded ahead of Galt
He built The Priory although he did not live in it.
His October 1, 1827 Report on progress was not considered satisfactory in London.
Galt chose a CHARLES PRIOR (PRYOR) as his on-the-spot manager for the Canada Company. Apparently Galt found him at York (Toronto) or at Galt in late 1826 or early 1827. He was probably born about 1800+. Prior supervised the development of Guelph in 1827-28. When Galt was recalled to England in 1828 the new Canada Company agent sent Prior to build the Huron Road to Goderich and became a manager there as well. He was fired for mis-managing Canada Company funds and was appointed a Justice of the Peace in Goderich. From there he is lost. He never married. When Dr William "Tiger" Dunlop left Goderich to work with the Lachine Canal Co. in the 1840's I believe Prior followed him. I can not find him in the 1851 census for Lachine, he may be in Montreal or dead? I am hoping an obituary may give some background to this important person in our history.
1826
By 1826 Dunlop already bears title "Warden of the Woods and Forests of the Canada Company"
1827
18270822 - King's birthday celebration at Guelph
Dunlop leaves in a week after the tree is cut.
Chas Prior in charge at Guelph made a six-month Report of activities to Directors Oct 1, 1827
18271131 -New Year Eve ball
LaGuayan settlers arrive - Prior takes care of them for Galt
Fall 1827 Prior appointed Commissioner of the Peace
Prior assisted in layout of road from Galt to Guelph
Next celebration in Guelph when Father Campion solemnized first marriage Aug 26, 1827, of Chris Keogh, employee of the Canada Company and Kitty Kelly.
1828
18280418 - Prior buys nails in Guelph
18280400 - Sam Strickland takes over from Prior who moved to Goderich
1828 - Galt leaves and Sam Strikland was to have charge of the Companies stores, keep the labour rolls and superintend the road making and bridge building, and indeed everything connected with the practical part of the settlement" under Charles Prior.
67 mile trip with Prior from Guelph to Goderich - lived in The Castle of Dunlops -
When Galt returned to UK Strickland left the company for Otonabee.
"Elegent house started for Charles Prior in Guelph but went to Goderich and never lived in it."
1829
18290000 - Prior and John McDonald lay out town plan of Goderich
18290600 - Prior and Strickland back in Guelph, Co agent at Goderich
1829 assessment - John Galt - owns 3 horses, 2 milk cows, 4 neat cattle, 2 pigs
Strickland - 27 years old Sam Strickland - 1 store - 1 log, 2 storey, 2 fire places (Priory)? 247-8
Charles Prior, Esq. Owns 2 horses £16
Guelph - 7 shops, 1 sawmill, 6, 5, 13 horse, 24 oxen, 95 cows, 182 acres arable
Prior property - Lots E 13-19 - 1829 owns 2 horses valued at £16 - same in 1830 in Gore Assessment for Guelph - William Dunlop, Absolom Shade and Sam Strickland in list Gore District MS-700, part 2 1828-3
June 1829 Prior left Guelph for Goderich
See - Men of Upper Canada - p. 236, Prior 3/1829 (M 7746)
1830
18300000 - Wm IV holiday Pryor celebrates
Prior built grist mill for Canada Company at Goderich
1833
Memories of Goderich (Oct 1833) mentioned p.19 refused transportation to an important settler.
Fete new King IV in 1830 long after event in UK as not know of it. Prior arranged it.
Under Jones who came to York as the new man responsible for CC - who looked after land sales. Lived in Dunlop's castle.
Prior reliable in his youth. As time went on he proved to be an incompetent administrator failing to keep land sales records, a scoundrel (pocketing the money), insolent, and uncaring toward the immigrants
1835 - Prior accused of fraud with Canada Company money as well as that of settlers.
John Longworth replaced him
Prior farmed the flats and kept 20-30 pigs which roamed into peoples gardens. On cross-way so Two people decided to take them to the pound. Prior arrived and paid $1 to a boy to drive them home and locked them up. Impound the pigs
Thomas Mercer Jones fired Prior over fraud. His friend? Prior appointed a JP after his dismissal.
1839 Jones moves to Goderich. Pryor still at the castle.
Prior (JP) handed out summary on-the-spot justice.
See - In the Days of the Canada Company - Lizar, p. 395
Built the small grist mill at Goderich for the Canada Company.
Dr Dunlop appointed Supt of Lachine Canal in 1844. In 1848 Dunlop dies at Lachine QC buried at Goderich. See - W.H. Gordon - The Tiger of Canada West
Prior's Guelph property
No. 608I, p. 181, registered 18/10/1835
Indenture 3/10/1835 between Charles Prior of Goderich, County of Huron, and Hon William Allan of City of Toronto and Thomas Mercer Jones of the City of Toronto, for 10 shillings, sold land in Guelph, County of Halton. Lots 41, 228 and 227 on north side of Quebec Street; lots 37, 38 and 39 and allowance for road on the west side of lot D which is partly broken by the rear of said lot and 47, and all houses
No. 155M, p. 408, registered 1/11/1839 - release dated 20/5/1839
Charles Prior of Goderich and Hon William Allan of Toronto and Thomas Mercer Jones of Toronto. Release all rights to land. Lots 46, 228, 227 on Quebec St - lots 37, 38, 39 with allowance for road on west side of Lot D and lot 47. Release between Jones and Prior signed at Goderich 12/8/1839 with witness Matthew Black
Wellington District Council buys on June 12, 1845 - lots 10, 11, 12,13, 14,16, 17
Plan 16 is a subdivision of the Priory Grounds by Strange into 17 lots 4.5 ac