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The first page of Dr. Hutchison's Birth Registry showing the move from New York to Port Hope21 September 1818
Port Hope, Ontario, Canada
Credits:Hutchison House Museum, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
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In 1816, at the age of 19, Dr. Hutchison was ready for his career in medicine. He decided to make a life for himself in North America and joined fellow graduate, James Grant, for the long voyage across the Atlantic Ocean. They arrived at Ellis Island, New York late in the year. His first recorded birth was a baby boy born to the wife of George Churingeros on January 6, 1817, in New York. Grant decided to move farther south to Mexico while Hutchison continued to practice in New York until at least February 8, 1818.Dr. Hutchison would only stay in New York a short while before moving to Upper Canada. The first birth he attended in Upper Canada was that of a son born to Adam Scott; Scott would later go on to build a mill on the River Otonabee, on the site that soon came to be known as Peterborough.
When Hutchison arrived in Port Hope the settlement was newly formed and in its beginning stages. In 1819, postmaster Charles Fothergill painted the view of Port Hope (formerly Smith's Creek).
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View of Smith's Creek by Charles Fothergill19th Century, Circa 1819
Port Hope, Ontario, Canada
Credits:Royal Ontario Museum, (956.74.1)
www.rom.on.ca
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Dr. Hutchison's certificate to practice surgery in Upper Canada3 December 1818
Port Hope, Ontario, Canada
Credits:Hutchison House Museum, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
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In 1818 a revised Medical Act was passed to create a board of qualified medical professionals to examine all of those wishing to practice medicine in Upper Canada. Anyone caught practicing physic, surgery or midwifery despite lacking board approval, would be ordered to pay a fine of one hundred pounds per offence to the crown for use by the government. While this act did not affect anyone practicing in Upper Canada before January of 1812, it was the first step in regulating the quality of medical professionals in Upper Canada. The first meeting of the Medical Board was on November 27, 1818. On December 8, 1818, at York, Dr. Hutchison swore an oath of allegiance before Justice of the Peace John Small, in accordance with this Medical Act. In July of 1829, Hutchison passed the examination required by all doctors to practice in Upper Canada.All certificates read:
"We certify that ______, of _______ in the District of ______, Gentleman, hath appeared before the Medical Board, and being examined touching his qualifications to practice Physic, Surgery and Midwifery, the Board is perfectly satisfied by his Examination, and find him duly and fully qualified to practice in the above branches.
Given under our Hands and Seals this day of _____"
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John Hutchison, Lease for Lot 2 Concession 4 Monaghan Township25 March 1819
Monaghan Township, Ontario, Canada
Credits:Hutchison House Museum, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
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In 1819 John moved north of Port Hope and leased lot 2, concession 4, of government land in South Monaghan Township. From 1822 to 1827 most of his patients lived in the Townships of Cavan and Monaghan. He did, however, take cases as far east as Douro. In 1822 he would meet Frances and Thomas A. Stewart, of Douro, for the first time when their daughter became ill. While the child did not survive, the friendship did. The Stewarts and Hutchisons would become very good friends. In addition to practicing medicine, Dr. Hutchison also served as Township Clerk and in 1824 as Justice of the Peace.The landscape in the Cavan area during the 1820s was practically untouched by settlers. In his book 'Twenty-Seven years in Canada West', Samuel Strickland tells the story of a man who walked from Bowmanville to Emily Township. He writes "the last eight or ten miles of road through the Bush, with not even a blazed line to guide him." Cavan Township would have been in the area that was considered "the Bush."
On September 9, 1822, John was appointed surgeon in the Second Regiment of Northumberland Militia. This posting was under the command of Regiment Lieutenant Colonel Archibald McDonald, Esquire.
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Dr. Hutchison as surgeon to the 2nd Regiment of Northumberland Militia9 September 1822
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
Credits:Hutchison House Museum, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
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While practicing in Port Hope and the surrounding area Hutchison met his future wife Martha Holland. Martha was born in Ireland July 4, 1806 to Ralph Burton Holland and Rachel Maw. She had one brother, George, and two sisters. After Rachel's death Ralph remarried and transferred to the 19th Light Dragoons and the family moved to Canada, eventually settling in Port Hope.Martha Holland and John Hutchison were married February 10, 1826 in Port Hope by Rev. John Thompson of Cavan. Shortly after their marriage the Hutchisons moved from Monaghan to Port Hope for two years and then to Cobourg, before finally settling in Peterborough.
Their first child, William, was born March 30, 1827. On November 11, 1828 their first daughter, Elizabeth, was born in Port Hope. She lived only a few hours. A second son, James, was born September 26, 1829 before the family's relocation to Peterborough.
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