This historic plan of the town of York ,which after the war of 1812 became Toronto.  It was drawn by Joseph Bouchette, the Admiralty surveyor of the Great Lakes.  At the time when it was already the capital of Upper Canada, as designated by John Grave Simcoe, the then Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada.  Prior to the establishment of York as the Capital the British had controlled their provincial operations from Niagara but that had proven vulnerable to attack from the Americans.

York was initially little more than a military outpost, although there had been settlement here for many years, ever since the land had been purchased from the indigeonous indians, the Mississaugas of the New Credit.

At the time this plan was drawn the settlement had less than 500 inhabitants.  Even by the end of the 1812-14 American conflict which saw the town attacked and sacked by the Americans, the population was a mere 720 in number.  After the war the town expanded quickly because of its importance as the colonial capital, which attracted institutions with province-wide interests, including banks and schools. Geographically it served the commercial needs of a newly settled hinterland at a time of expanding trade and improving transportation.

Bouchette’s beautiful plan includes a great deal of historic detail, which forms a part of Totonto’s colourful history.  His extensive remarks give a clear explanation as to why the location of the settlement was so important with its natural harbour where ‘such is the situation of this harbour that vessels might winter with the greatest safety..’  His full description of the harbour also points to the location of the Garrison, which protects the harbour.  Not only is the entrance narrow but there is very little room for maneuver for ships entering or leaving with a shallow ‘hard bottom’ to either side of the channel.  He offers no detail of the town at the time other than to indicate where the military ‘reserves’ were located and the presence of Castle Francis on the banks of the river Don.  His main focus is clearly the hydrography of the harbour.

Bouchette is clear that in the ‘in the Spring and Fall of the year, but more particularly in the latter as they are exposed to very severe gales of wind from S.W. and W.S.W. with a very heavy sea, therefore in this season of the year, if vessels have not their sailing Orders, it would be far better to return to Port’.

By way of example, clearly marked on the plan, is the track of the His Majestey’s Ship Anandada (Onagonda) which in the Autumn of 1793 floundered on the sandy shoal on the outer bank of the harbour at  the hands of a young inexperienced officer  The ship is marked by Bouchette in two places, first where she struck and secondly where she, presumably, drifted to.

Bouchette is, mainly through his own offices and later accounts, credited with refloating the Anandaga and then anchored her where she ‘rode by a single kedge anchore & grapnel in the safety of the anchorage (marked A on the plan).  He reputedly received a promotion for his actions.