This section of the web site contains transcriptions of the biographical sketches of the residents of East Gwillimbury as found in A History of Toronto and County of York. The book describes the township in the following manner:
“There are three townships bearing the name of Gwillimbury – East and North Gwillimbury in the County of York, and West Gwillimbury in Simcoe. They were named after the wife of Governor Simcoe, whose family name was Gwillim, and whose father, at that time aide-de-camp to Gen. Wolfe, was killed at the taking of Quebec. She was a lady of marked intellectual capacity and strong artistic tastes, and long survived her husband, as her death did not take place until 1850. East Gwillimbury comprises about 58,000 acres, and bounded on the north by North Gwillimbury, on the east by Scott, on the south by Whitchurch, and on the west by King. It has nine concessions east of Yonge Street and one west of it, the latter originally forming part of West Gwillimbury. Two of the concessions are defective. The first settlements in the township were made in 1798, two years before the commencement of the work of survey by Surveyor Stegmann. Other surveyors who from time to time continued the laying out of the township were Hambly, Wilmot, Lount, Chewett, Lindsay, Haller and Gossage, the latter completing the survey in 1865.” (vol. 1, p. 170)
To see a 19th century map of East Gwillimbury Township, visit The Canadian County Atlas Digital Project.
The sketches are grouped by surname in the links below. When you reach the appropriate page, use the “find” function on your browser to search for a specific name or word.