Compare And Contrast Lawrence And Jennings

The war ended in 1814 and Upper Canada returned to the business of peace and welfare. Edward, one of Lawrence’s oldest sons, was given, once he was of age, the 100 acres Lawrence had obtained by petition in 1797. As the years progressed many of Lawrence’s other sons obtained lands, mostly by buying them in the Pelham area. With his second wife, he would also have at least another five sons, one being Mathias (b 1823) and 3 girls.
There were 6 Jennings’ farms established by 1828 in Pelham Twp: Lawrence (Lots 6+7, Con. 10), Edward (Lots 6+7, Con. 9), Jeremiah (Lot 14 Con. 14), Thomas (Lot 13, Con. 11), Septimus (Lot 12, Con. 11), and Peter (Lot 9, Con. 14). The two younger sons, Caleb and Mathias, 18 and 16 respectively would have to wait a little

As roads were also improved, Lawrence and Lewis Willson, a Quaker but still a friend of Lawrence’s were appointed as road commissioners for the road by the Quaker meeting house at the Effington line and the Welland road that separated Lawrence from his son Edwards property. Lawrence and Lewis were paid £25 for the effort in 1834.
Over the next few years the Jennings improved their land and livelihood with Caleb setting up his farm in 1836 (Lot 13 Con. 14) beside older brother Jeremiah both farms adjoining the Chippewa River. That year Pelham Township began an audit of the farms assessing them in order to properly tax the landowners. Lawrence, with the most mature farm of the Jennings had his property, farm and livestock assessed to be worth £124 (roughly $20,000 today). He had 60 acres under cultivation with 5 milking cows, 2 horses and 2 oxen. For this he was required to pay, at the rate of one penny to the pound, 6 shillings 4 pence (about $25 today). John’s grandfather Thomas was assessed for his 100 acre farm in 1836 £61 and hence owed 3 d 1 p in taxes. He had managed to clear 20 acres for farm use with his horse and 2 oxen and 3 cows to provide milk and butter. Caleb’s assessment was only £20 as he just got his 100 acres, none of which was under cultivation and had no animals.