n 1869, the survivors of the early occupants of York, Upper Canada, formed themselves into a Society entitled The Pioneers, for the joint purpose of mutual conference, and of gathering together and preserving whatever memorials of the local Past might be found to be yet extant. The names of the members of this Association are subjoined, all of whom were resident at York customably or occasionally, at some period prior to March 6th, 1834, when the name of the town was changed to Toronto. The date which precedes each group shows the year in which the members included in the group became identified with York, whether by birth or otherwise. In numerous instances, the father of the individual named in the following list, having been the establisher of a family in these parts and its first breadwinner here, was the true pioneer. (By a change in the original constitution of the Society, the sons and descendants of the first members of the Association, and of all the first grantees or occupants of land in the county of York, as defined in 1798, are, on their attaining the age of 40 years, eligible to be members.)
1794.—Edward Simcoe Wright, Toronto.—Isaac White, do.
1795.—Lieut. Francis Button, Buttonville.
1797.—John Thompson, Toronto.
1798.—Hon. W. B. Robinson, Toronto.—John Bright, do.
1799.—John W. Gamble, Pine Grove, Vaughan.
1800.—Andrew Heron, Toronto.—Cornelius Van Nostrand, Yonge Street.
1801.—Robert Bright, Toronto.
1805.—John Murchison, Toronto.
1806.—Hon. H. J. Boulton, Toronto.—William Cawthra, do.—John Ridout, do.