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

Mayor William Robinson

Male 1822 - 1881  (59 years)


Personal Information    |    Notes    |    Sources    |    Event Map    |    All    |    PDF

  • Name William Robinson 
    Prefix Mayor 
    Born 8 Jan 1822  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
    Gender Male 
    Elected Office 1857  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Reeve of Galt 
    Elected Office 1859  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Mayor of Galt 
    Occupation 1861  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [7
    Grocer, Miller & Woolen Manufacturer 
    Residence 1861  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [7
    Church of England 
    Occupation 1871  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Manufacturer 
    Residence 1871  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Church of England 
    Historic Building 1872  115 State St., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • 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 Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Mayor of Galt 
    FindAGrave https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/244497864 
    Retired 1881  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Eby ID Number Waterloo-75521 
    Died 13 May 1881  St. Catharines, Welland, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [3, 5, 6
    Cause: Died quite suddenly 
    Buried Trinity Anglican Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [5
    Person ID I75521  Generations
    Last Modified 11 Jun 2024 

    Family Sarah Palmer,   b. Aug 1821, Egerton, , Kent, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 15 Jan 1892, Brantford, Brant Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 70 years) 
    Children 
     1. Mary Elizabeth Robinson,   b. 22 Dec 1848, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 17 Aug 1927, Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 78 years)
     2. Sarah Elizabeth Robinson,   b. CALC 10 Jun 1858, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 27 Mar 1872, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 13 years)
    Last Modified 11 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 
    1. [S336] Census - ON, Waterloo, Galt - 1881, Galt Division 2 Page 2.

    2. [S570] Census - ON, Waterloo, Galt - 1871, Div. 2, Pg. 13.

    3. [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.

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

    5. [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

    6. [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

    7. [S1838] Census - ON, Waterloo, Galt - 1861, Galt 1861 Div. 2 Page 29.

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 8 Jan 1822 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsElected Office - Reeve of Galt - 1857 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsElected Office - Mayor of Galt - 1859 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Grocer, Miller & Woolen Manufacturer - 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 MapsOccupation - Manufacturer - 1871 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Church of England - 1871 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsElected Office - Mayor of Galt - 1875 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsRetired - 1881 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - - Trinity Anglican Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth