Mrs. Simcoe's Diary

by Elizabeth Posthuma Simcoe, Michael Gnarowski (Foreword by)

Elizabeth Simcoe's diary, describing Canada from 1791 to 1796, is history written as it was being made. Created largely while she was seated in canoes and bateaux, the diary documents great events in a familiar way and opens our eyes to a side of Canadian history that is too little shown.

During her time in Upper Canada (now Ontario), Mrs. Simcoe encountered fascinating figures, such a explorer, Alexander Mackenzie, and Mohawk Chief, Joseph Brant. She took particular interest in the First Nations people, the social customs of the early settlers, and the flora and fauna of a land that contained a mere 10, 000 non-Natives in 1791. The realm she observed so vividly was quite alien to a woman used to a world of ball gowns, servants, and luxury in England, but the lieutenant-governor's wife was made of stern stuff and embraced her new environment with relish, leaving us with an account instilled with excitement and delight at everything she witnessed.

Genres: Classics

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Elizabeth Posthuma Simcoe, née Gwillim, author and illustrator (baptized 22 September 1762 in Northamptonshire, England; died 17 March 1850 in Devon, England), was the wife of John Graves Simcoe, the first lieutenant-governor of Upper Canada. She kept a detailed diary (now published) and painted and drew many pictures depicting life in early Upper Canada.

The Simcoes purchased a concession of land in Toronto (York at the time) in 1793 and named it "Castle Frank" after their son Francis.

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fascinating look at life in Upper Canada in the late 1700s. Obviously Elizabeth Simcoe, as the Lieutenant-Governor's wife, has a privileged perspective and brings her own biases and prejudices, so fair warning. She is an extremely human narrator, with an often dry and very funny sense of humour. Even though the diary is over 200 years old, Elizabeth's thoughts and observations are frequently very relatable (I also wouldn't want to hear about historical ship wrecks while on a tall ship in a thunderstorm in the North Atlantic). She comments on everything around her except her family (oddly enough), so the diary offers interesting contemporary perspectives on nature and wildlife, the social life in Quebec, Montreal, Niagara and York, life in the developing settlements, and interactions between the various culture groups in Upper Canada at the time (although her observations of First Nations peoples - and the French - are unsurprisingly patronizing and often racist). For anyone interested in early Canadian history, definitely an important book and an easy read.

[E · Rating 2 out of 5]

Incredible primary source, dry read

[Elaine Cougler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an awesome account of Mrs. Simcoe's time in Upper Canada from about 1792-1796 when she accompanied her husband, Governor Simcoe, here from England. Elizabeth Simcoe's artistic and writing talents shed much light on the nature of Upper Canada's geography, its citizenry, and even its wildlife. During my own research I was so taken with this book that I bought my own copy as a treasure to have on my own bookshelf. Mrs. Simcoe was anything but a stay-at-home wife as she left some of her children in England, brought the rest to Canada, birthed at least one more here, and used her time in Canada to create one of the few day-to-day accounts of life at the time. My only disappointment is that not all the diary pages are completed, a fact which probably attests to the lady's busy life rather than an unwillingness to leave a permanent record of her experiences.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm fascinated by the idea of a Jane Austen type gentlewoman transposed into the pioneer country of Upper Canada. Sadly, without the artworks that Mrs Simcoe created to accompany her diary jottings, a lot of the book reads a bit like a Twitter profile (Dined with Mrs Smith supped with Lady Dorchester). However, there are some fascinating glimpses into the creation of Toronto - the laying out of Dundas Street, cutting Yonge Street through the forest. Also side references to the tensions with the United States and France - the voyage back to England where Elizabeth and her children have to hide in a cupboard for hours as they fear French ships attacking them. I want to read the earlier presentation of the diary, which I believe has more of the reproductions of her paintings and sketches.

[Erin Bedford · Rating 5 out of 5]

an excellent primary source for early history of Toronto, Niagara, Burlington & Kingston