Waterloo Region Generations
A record of the people of Waterloo Region, Ontario.
Peter Jaffray

Peter Jaffray[1]

Male 1800 - 1864  (64 years)

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  • Name Peter Jaffray 
    Born 1800  , Stirlingshire, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
    Gender Male 
    FindAGrave https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/92435075 
    Occupation 1851  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    Printer 
    Residence 1851  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    Episcopalian 
    Occupation 1861  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [8
    Printer 
    Residence 1861  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [8
    Church of England 
    Died 15 Nov 1864  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [4, 5, 9, 10
    Cause: fever 
    Buried 17 Nov 1864  Trinity Anglican Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [4, 7
    Hall of Fame - Waterloo Region Bef 2012  , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [11
    Interesting life story, newspaper 
    Eby ID Number Waterloo-32382 
    Person ID I32382  Generations
    Last Modified 26 Feb 2024 

    Father Jaffray,   b. CA 1770,   d. Yes, date unknown 
    Family ID F38460  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Mary Ann Gittins,   b. 1804, Shrewsbury, , Shropshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 17 Apr 1873, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 69 years) 
    Married 30 Oct 1829  Shrewsbury, , Shropshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location  [12, 13
    Children 
     1. Catherine Elizabeth "Kate" Jaffray,   b. 31 Jul 1830, Shrewsbury, , Shropshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 21 Feb 1907, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 76 years)
     2. Mayor William Jaffray,   b. 6 Mar 1832, Shrewsbury, , Shropshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 28 Sep 1896, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 64 years)
     3. Mayor Richard Jaffray,   b. 3 Feb 1834, Shrewsbury, , Shropshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 4 Jul 1898, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 64 years)
     4. Henry James Jaffray,   b. 1836, Shrewsbury, , Shropshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 22 May 1878, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 42 years)
     5. George Joseph Jaffray,   b. 21 Oct 1838, Shrewsbury, , Shropshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 5 Sep 1895, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 56 years)
     6. Kate Jaffray,   b. 1841, , England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     7. Mary Harriet Jaffray,   b. 10 Mar 1841, Shrewsbury, , Shropshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1 Jul 1873, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 32 years)
     8. James Jaffray,   b. 1853, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
    Last Modified 2 Mar 2024 
    Family ID F23820  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Photos
    Peter Jaffray
    Peter Jaffray
    from Waterloo Region Hall of Fame

  • Notes 
    • PETER JAFFRAY 1800-1864

      Married: Mary Ann Gittins

      Mr. Jaffray was born in Stirling, Scotland in 1800, was a graduate of the University of Glasgow and learned the printing business while in the employ of Oliver and Boyd in Edinburgh. He also worked for the Shrewsbury Chronicle for twenty-two years and started the Shrewsbury News. In 1844 Mr. Jaffray immigrated to the Goderich area with the intention of becoming a gentleman farmer. On his way west he passed through Galt and noted that the Dumfries Courier was looking for a printer. He continued on his journey but it soon became apparent that pioneer farming in Canada was neither to his expectations nor his liking and he soon began to contemplate alternatives. He considered an offer to join George Brown's fledgling Toronto Globe but decided instead to throw in his lot with Ben Hearle and the Dumfries Courier. After working for two years for the "shiftless" Mr. Hearle, Mr. Jaffray and his sons finally had enough of the publisher's shortcomings and announced their intentions to leave within a month. Faced with the loss of the cream of his staff, Mr. Hearle persuaded the Jaffray's to stay on for an additional three weeks while he sought qualified replacements. When it became apparent that none were forthcoming and that the demise of the Courier was inevitable, Mr. Hearle offered to sell his antiquated equipment to Mr. Jaffray. Although contemplating the formation of his own newspaper, Mr. Jaffray declined the offer, opting instead for newer, though more expensive, equipment. Having now severed his ties with the Courier, Mr. Jaffray, in partnership with James Ainslie, launched the Galt Reporter with the first issue appearing on Friday, November 13, 1846. Mr. Ainslie and Mr. Jaffray had a falling out over the conservative political content that was finding its way into the paper and Mr. Ainslie left the partnership in 1849 to start a rival weekly, the Dumfries Reformer. With the departure of Mr. Ainslie the Reporter came under the sole control of Mr. Jaffray and his sons William, Richard, Henry and George, and became more politically conservative in tone. Mr. Jaffray died on November 15, 1864 and is buried in Trinity Anglican Cemetery. Jaffray St. is named for him and perpetuates the memory of various family members.


      Cambridge Mosaic, Jim Quantrell, 1998, City of Cambridge

      ______________________

      During the summer of 1844 the first newspaper ever published in Galt saw the light. It was called the Dumfries Courier, and thirty-five year after its publication, as the copy before us witnesses, it presents a very faded and unattractive appearance. It was published by the easy-going, genial but shiftless "Ben" Hearle, who felt his bosom swell with pride when he was called the editor, but who performed little but spoke much of the onerous duties of the chair editorial. Indeed, from " Ben's" easygoing habits, it is very doubtful if there would have been any editorials whatever on some occasions, or in fact any Courier at all, but for the fact that Mr. Peter Jaffray and sons had arrived in Galt from Shrewsbury, England, shortly after the office was opened, and were induced to take an active part in getting out the paper.....Mr. Peter Jaffray was born in Stirling, Scotland, in 1800. He learned the printing business with Oliver & Bojsd, Edinburgh, and afterwards obtained a responsible charge in connection with the Shrewsbury Chronicle, in England, with which he was associated for twenty-two years. After starting the Shrewsbury News, he emigrated to Canada, arriving in Galt in July, 1844, where he continued to reside until his death on the 15th November, 1864. His connection with the press of Galt, as well as his social and kind disposition, are too well remembered to require recital.

      Reminiscences of the Early History of Galt and the Settlement of Dumfries in the Province of Ontario, by James Young

  • Sources 
    1. [S1338] News - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge - Galt Reporter (1846-1973), Marriage of George Alfred Baker - Jaffray - 27 Apr 1866, Page 3.

    2. [S745] Book - A Cyclopedia of Canadian Biography being chiefly men of the time Vol. 1, pg 197 -biography of William Jaffray.

    3. [S313] Census - ON, Waterloo, Galt - 1851, Pg.40.

    4. [S505] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge - Trinity Anglican (Galt) CC#4497 Internet Link .
      Peter Jaffray/ died at Galt/ Novenber 15th 1864/ aged 64 years/ also his wife/ Mary Ann Gittins/ died April 17th 1873/ aged 69 years/ Catherine Elizabeth/ daughter of/ Peter & Jane/ Jaffray/ died Feb. 21st 1907/ aged 76 years/ Jaffray

    5. [S7] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Berliner Journal (1859-1917), 17 Nov 1864.
      Peter Jaffray died 15 Nov 1864 in Galt, 64 yrs.

    6. [S1838] Census - ON, Waterloo, Galt - 1861.

    7. [S574] Church Records - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge - Trinity Anglican.
      Peter Jaffray, buried 17 nov 1864, cause fever, occ. newspaper proprietor, b. Scotland, buried St. Andrews

    8. [S1838] Census - ON, Waterloo, Galt - 1861, Galt 1861 Div. 2 Page 30.

    9. [S570] Census - ON, Waterloo, Galt - 1871, Div. 1, Pg. 68.

    10. [S31] News - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge - Dumfries Reformer (1850-1892), 16 Nov 1864.
      Jaffray, Peter died 15 Nov 1864 In Galt. Editor & proprietor of Galt Reporter. Age 64. Buried in Anglican Church Cemetery, Galt.

    11. [S220] Waterloo Region Hall of Fame Waterloo Region Hall of Fame.

    12. [S1803] zzEngland, Marriages, 1538-1973, ).
      Peter Jaffray
      Spouse's Name:Mary Anne Gittins
      Event Date:30 Oct 1829
      Event Place:Saint Chad,Shrewsbury,Shropshire,England

    13. [S2734] England, Staffordshire, Church Records, 1538-1944.
      Peter Jaffray
      Event Place:Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England, United Kingdom
      Event Place:Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England
      Age:21
      Marital Status:Unknown
      Spouse's Name:Mary Anne Gittins
      Spouse's Residence County:Salop
      Spouse's Age:21
      Spouse's Marital Status:Single
      Spouse's Birth Year:1808

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 1800 - , Stirlingshire, Scotland Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - 30 Oct 1829 - Shrewsbury, , Shropshire, England Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Printer - 1851 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Episcopalian - 1851 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Printer - 1861 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Church of England - 1861 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - Cause: fever - 15 Nov 1864 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - 17 Nov 1864 - Trinity Anglican Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsHall of Fame - Waterloo Region - Bef 2012 - , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth