Mayor William Robinson

1822 - 1881  (59 years)

• Name	William Robinson
  Prefix	Mayor
  Born	8 Jan 1822	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
  Gender	Male
  Elected Office	1857	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  	Reeve of Galt
  Elected Office	1859	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  	Mayor of Galt
  Occupation	1861	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [7]
  	Grocer, Miller & Woolen Manufacturer
  Residence	1861	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [7]
  	Church of England
  Occupation	1871	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2]
  	Manufacturer
  Residence	1871	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2]
  	Church of England
  Historic Building	1872	115 State St., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  	This designated structure was built in 1872 and is an important example of vernacular Victoria ltalianate architecture. The main structure is grey granite (with limestone quoines and window surrounds) and a rear section constructed of pink granite. The windows are segmentally arched and the original window frames remain. The following information came from Laura Waldie at City of Cambridge: The house was built by William Robinson in about 1872-1873. William Robinson acquired 30 acres of land from Andrew Elliott, Galt's first Mayor, and who was a significant landowner and businessman in Galt from about 1832 to 1879. In having done a designation of a property on Ainslie Street South, we discovered that Elliott had his estate surveyed into land parcels and sold them all off in an auction in 1872. William Robinson bought one of those parcels and your house is believed to be the house he built on his parcel. Robinson was a mill owner.
  Elected Office	1875	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  	Mayor of Galt
  FindAGrave	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/244497864
  Retired	1881	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-75521
  Died	13 May 1881	St. Catharines, Welland, Ontario, Canada   [3, 5, 6]
  	Cause: Died quite suddenly
  Buried	Trinity Anglican Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [5]
  Person ID	I75521	Generations
  Last Modified	26 Jun 2024

  
  

  Family	Sarah Palmer,   b. Aug 1821, Egerton, , Kent, England ,   d. 15 Jan 1892, Brantford, Brant Co., Ontario, Canada  (Age ~ 70 years)
  Children	1. Mary Elizabeth Robinson,   b. 22 Dec 1848, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 17 Aug 1927, Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada  (Age 78 years)   2. Sarah Elizabeth Robinson,   b. CALC 10 Jun 1858, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 27 Mar 1872, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age ~ 13 years)
  Last Modified	26 Jun 2024
  Family ID	F19791	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  The election of Mayor was at that time vested in the Council, and a good deal of speculation took place before the Councillors were elected, as to which citizen should have the honour of being the first Mayor. At one time there seemed some likelihood of the election of Councillors turning chiefly on this question, and there can be no doubt it did enter into the matter in some degree, although not to such an extent as to become the principal issue. The new Council met for organization on the 10th January, Mr. Adam Ker, Municipal Clerk, in the chair. It having been ascertained that a majority were prepared tie in favour of Mr. Morris C. Lutz for the first chief magistrate, on motion of Dr. Richardson, seconded by Mr. McNaughton, he was unanimously elected. The Council then proceeded to elect the Reeve. Mr. William Robinson was nominated by Mr. Ramore, seconded by Mr. Young; Mr. William Osborne, by Mr. Kay, seconded by Mr. Hobson. On a vote being taken, Mr. Robinson had the majority, and was declared duly elected. And, thus equipped, the wheels of our first Town Council began to move. Reminiscences of the Early History of Galt and the Settlement of Dumfries in the Province of Ontario, by James Young

  
  

• Sources

  [S336] Census - ON, Waterloo, Galt - 1881, Galt Division 2 Page 2. [S570] Census - ON, Waterloo, Galt - 1871, Div. 2, Pg. 13. [S7] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Berliner Journal (1859-1917), 19 May 1881. 13 May 1881 William Robinson of Galt, died quite suddenly in St. Catharines in his 60th. Year. [S1838] Census - ON, Waterloo, Galt - 1861. [S505] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge - Trinity Anglican (Galt) CC#4497 Internet Link . William Robinson/ died 13th May 1881/ aged 59 years 4 mo's/ and 5 days/ Sarah Robinson/ born August 1821/ died January 1892/ also three infant children/ Sarah E./ daughter of/ William and Sarah/ Robinson/ died 27th March 1872/ aged 13 years 9 mo's/ and 17 days/ Robinson [S116] Vit - ON - Death Registration. NameWilliam Robinson GenderMale Age61 Birth Dateabt 1820 Birth PlaceGalt Death DateMay 1881 Death Place St. Catherins, Lincoln, Ontario, Canada Cause of DeathDisease of the Heart [S1838] Census - ON, Waterloo, Galt - 1861, Galt 1861 Div. 2 Page 29.

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 8 Jan 1822 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Elected Office - Reeve of Galt - 1857 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Elected Office - Mayor of Galt - 1859 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Grocer, Miller & Woolen Manufacturer - 1861 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Church of England - 1861 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Manufacturer - 1871 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Church of England - 1871 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Elected Office - Mayor of Galt - 1875 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Retired - 1881 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Buried - - Trinity Anglican Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth