Fonds F 556
20 centimetres of textual records
Fonds consists of the diary of Ely Playter who lived near York in Upper Canada and later in Niagara County in New York State. Playter was a farmer, lay preacher and officer in the Upper Canada militia. In 1824 he was elected to the House of Assembly.
The diary documents Playter's day-to-day life from 1801 to 1853. Since he was a lay preacher with the Methodist church, religious topics feature prominently. Other topics include his farming and lumbering activities; his difficulties in rounding up local militia men during the War of 1812; the fall of York to the Americans in 1813 and its subsequent occupation; election practices in Upper Canada; activities in the House of Assembly of Upper Canada; and various movements affecting New York politics in the 1840s (including the abolitionist movement, the temperance movement, the Locofocos, and the divisions in the Whig party).
The diaries are chronological; however, numerous gaps exist. There are no entries for 1807-1808 or from October 1812 to April 1813 and with the exception of December 1836 there are no entries from 1834 to 1839.
Ely Playter (1776-1858) was a farmer, lumberman, militia officer, and member of the Upper Canada House of Assembly, who lived in and around York (Toronto).
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Title based on content of fonds.
Accession Number: 1529. MU 5901 - MU 5902. MS 87.
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