Residence.
Details of Site Location: At the southwest corner of Brock Street (Spadina Avenue) and Richmond Street.
Boundary History: The house occupied half an acre, including one outbuilding.
Current Use of Property: Commercial buildings.
Historical Description: James Fitzgibbon was born in Ireland on 16 November 1780, and came to Canada with the British army to serve in the War of 1812. Fitzgibbon was posted during the war just 18 miles from the American headquarters and had with him 47 men from the 49th Regiment. It was to Fitzgibbon that Laura Secord took her warning of an impending American attack. Alerted, Fitzgibbon, with his Indian allies, and in a brilliant strategic move, negotiated with the Americans and caused their large force to surrender to his small one, now supplemented by other small forces. After the war was over he settled in York on the Garrison Common. In her book, his daughter stated that when he sold his commission in the army in 1826, he purchased 18 acres of the Garrison Common under a Licence of Occupation, west of the modern Spadina Avenue and south of Queen. He built a two-storey roughcast house on the property and lived there from 1831 to 1840. After his wife died on 22 March 1841, Fitzgibbon moved his family to Kingston, leaving the house in charge of a gardener. Henry Scadding described the house as a modest dwelling of wood, somewhat peculiar in expression, square and rather tall for its depth and width, and of dingy hue. Its roof was four sided, and lower down a number of lean-tos and irregular extensions clustered around. In front, there was low shrubbery, a circular drive, and a wide open barred gate. Maps show that south of the house was the residence of a Mr. Dunn and the senior commissary’s office. Mr. Crookshank and the senior commissary both had Licences of Occupation. There is no record of subsequent owners or inhabitants of the house or of the date when it was demolished.
Relative Importance: James Fitzgibbon is a genuine hero, as daring in his strategy as was Laura Secord in her patriotism. His short years in Toronto do not diminish his importance.
Planning Implications: The location of his house and the account of his military feat should be given in a plaque mounted at the on an exterior wall of the present building where all may read it.
Reference Sources: Richard Bonnycastle, R.E., No. 1 Plan of the Town and Harbour of York Upper Canada (1833); Maps Project files; Canada in the Great World War, Vol. 1: Military History of Canada 1608-1914.
Acknowledgements: Maps Project; Toronto Military Heritage Association.