Looking east from around foot of Bathurst St. – Elizabeth P. Simcoe, 1793?

Looking s. towards Gibralter Point, showing firing of salute – Elizabeth P. Simcoe, 1793

Elizabeth Posthuma (Gwillim) Simcoe, 1762-1850 (circa 1790)

On July 29 and beyond, take a moment to remember the arrival of Elizabeth Posthuma (Gwillim) Simcoe, the wife of Lieutenant-Governor John Graves Simcoe, at Toronto on July 29, 1793. (The next day, Toronto would become York only to become Toronto again in 1834.) We should be grateful to Elizabeth Simcoe for leaving to posterity her diaries documenting her travels as well as her artwork depicting various scenes around Toronto/York. Her diary entry for July 29, 1793 (accompanied by subsequent commentary and notes by eminent Toronto historian John Ross Robertson) stated the following:

Elizabeth Simcoe’s diary provide those interested in Canadian history with a snapshot of personal life experiences. Borrow a copy of Mrs. Simcoe’s diary from Toronto Public Library collections by placing a hold:

Book

Or, read Elizabeth Simcoe’s diary online through archive.org .

For more detailed information on Elizabeth Simcoe, please visit Elizabeth Posthuma Simcoe, 1762-1850 on the North York Central Library blog.  For more information on John Simcoe, please visit Snapshots in History: February 25: Remembering John Graves Simcoe and York on the Local History & Genealogy blog.