Compare And Contrast The Free Grant And Homestead Act Of 1868

With the arrival of 1868, the province of Ontario created more Free Grants throughout the Parry Sound district, looking to quickly populate the area with labour and farming for the lumber industry that was rapidly developing. Part of the reason for this law was to obtain much needed lumber to feed the British Navy.
Known as the Free Grants and Homestead Act of 1868, grants of 100 to 200 acres of land were given to those settlers over 18. There were conditions placed on the settler before he could obtain a proper patent and hence own the property. These were that within 5 years of obtaining the grant, 15 acres had to be cleared and cultivated and built a house fit for habitation of size at least 16’x20’ with continuous habitation. They had one

Benjamin and family moved to Foley in 1869 prepared to clear a lot of land but perhaps not so prepared for the difficult land and climate in which to farm in!
The first Vankoughnett to get the Free Grant was eldest son John, on May 19, 1869 the 100 acres being on Lot 5 Concession 4 on the east side of Otter Lake. He obtained a second 100 acres almost exactly a year later that abutted to the north the first 100 acres. This addition gave him full access to Otter Lake.
Father Benjamin, at a ripe age of 57, and son George were soon to follow in September 1870 with Lot 22 Cons 5 & 7 of 168 acres and George Lots 23,24,25 Con 4 for 100 acres. Again in both cases the plots had part of Otter Lake as boundaries. Benjamin still had his youngest, Daniel, aged 15 living with him along with Daniel’s sister Elizabeth aged

On February 1 of that year Rankin’s opened their store as the Township of Foley got its start and soon there was a Post Office there as well. The Vankoughnetts and kin had the address of P.O. Box 100. Foley began in 1872, and at the very first council meeting Benjamin along with George were there to add the Vankoughnett’s voice in forming laws and deciding taxes and services. One of the main ones was to decide that Foley was to be dry by enforcing the Temperance Act that the Beatty’s had set up for Parry Sound. Benjamin and George both voted on the yes side. Apparently they were not into drinking like many other settlers at the time. This was the start of what would be a long Vankoughnett involvement with Foley and area in terms of local