North West Mounted Police

On May 3 1873 Sir John A. Macdonald introduced a bill to establish a police force, para-military in nature in the North West Territories. In October, Lt.Col. George Arthur French was appointed commissioner of the force and recruits were assembled in Toronto and Fort Garry. In June 1874 two groups assembled at Dufferin Man., to complete preparations for a march west to intercept the whisky traders from Montana. On July 8, the force began its march. WILLIAM DUMMER JARVIS was there.
Seven other Jarvises helped to open up the West.

William Dummer Jarvis (1834 – 1914)

Son of William Botsford Jarvis & Mary Boyles Powell

June 6, 1874, the beginning of the great march west. The newly minted Mounties braved the elements and starvation to tame the west. He was one of the 4 newly appointed inspectors who lead the first troop of 300 Mounties on this legionary march towards Fort Whoop-up lair of the whisky traders. Willy and A Division split off from the main party at Roche Percee to shepherd 62 men 55 sick or tired horses and 50 cows with caves to Edmonton, 875 miles away. The route was often rough and deep in mud yet they arrived in 88 days. After wintering at the Hudson Bay Company fort, he moved his men 16 miles downstream and established Fort Saskatchewan. From this fort they policed the north.

WDJ received his commission in the 12th Regiment of Foot as an ensign in 1855 and promoted to Lieutenant in 1858. He served with the Regiment during the Kaffir War. He returned to England and was appointed Instructor of Musketry. He returned to Canada and became the 1st Commanding Officer of the 12th Regiment. In 1881 Jarvis by then a Superintendent left the NWMP. He died in 1914 and was buried in Neilson B.C.

Edward Warrell Jarvis (1846 – 1894)

Son of Edward James Jarvis & Elizabeth Gray of Charlottetown P.E.I.

Edward was a graduate of Cambridge and an engineer, served with Sir Stanford Fleming when surveying the route of the Canadian Pacific Railway. He was the first registrar of the University of Manitoba, a founder of the Manitoba Hospital and an officer of the NWMP

On April 10th 1886 he was appointed Superintendant of the NWMP in Regina. He was 39 years old, 5 ft.8 in., 185 lb., brown hair, blue eyes. He had a bullet wound on the calf of his right leg.

He had previously served as a Major in the Canadian Militia and was in command of the Headquarters, District Regina at that time. It embraced the country on both sides of the C.P.R. from Moosomin to Moose Jaw, a distance of 180 miles.

Major Jarvis first came to the Province about 1871 in charge of the Government surveying party. Some time later was a partner in the lumber business of W.J.Macaulay & Company the first enterprise of its kind in Winnipeg. While there he was connected to the Winnipeg Field Battery which he commanded during the Rebellion.

Edward died suddenly of Cellulitis, 26th November, 1894. The Doctors in attendance said they had opened up the neck but little serum came away showing that it was in his blood. He rallied for a few hours but went off again gasping for life. He must have expected the end for he went through all his papers and told where to find his will.
Biographical information was lost in the fire at Ottawa.

Stephen Murray Jarvis (1854 – 1921)

Son of Arthur Murray Jarvis & Martha Matilda Ratcliffe

Stephen signed the Oath of Allegiance at Fort Welsh July 4, 1879. He took his Medical Examination in Montreal April 5, 1879, age 25 and was considered good for the force. His previous occupation was listed as a Cattle Herder. He completed his first 5 year term and reengaged for a further 3 years. There is no information on his service record. The year of his discharge he writes asking for a job in their warehouse but none were available. In May of 1888 he was in Gleichen, Alberta, NWT. The last communications was from 80 Charles St. in Toronto, he asked if there were any vacancies for recruits of old hands.

Miles O’Reilly, ‘Milo’ Jarvis (1857 – 1909)

He is the son of Charles Herbert Jarvis &Emma O’Reilly

and grandson of Miles O’Reilly & Jane Sumpsion Racey

and grandson of William Munson & Anne Sumpsion Racey

The letters from Judge Miles O’Reilly in Hamilton requesting an appointment for a commission into the NWMP was to Sir John A. Macdonald. At that time in1884 Miles was in the employ of Hugh Macdonald in Winnipeg, Sir John’s son.

In a letter July 30 1885 he offers that his grandson has had 2 years in the Royal Navy as a Cadet in England and 4 years volunteer force in Canada at the outbreak of the rebellion. He joined his regiment the 19th and did effective service until he was severely wounded. He had lived 2 years in the northwest. He understands the customs of the country as well as the habits of the Indians and speaks French.

The request for inspectorships was delayed until March of 1886 waiting for an opening. A renewed application was issued when Inspector Dickens resigned.
There is no more correspondence on RCMP file.

Arthur Murray Jarvis (1862 – 1930)

Son of Arthur Murray Jarvis & Annie Stein Maclear

Brother of William Morley (1870 – 1929) also NWMP

Brother of Frederick Starr (1867 – ?) also NWMP

And half brother of Stephen Murray (1854 – ? ) also NWMP

Born in Toronto, he signed up with the NWMP June 25th, 1880 at Fort Walsh, an important center of police patrol. It was a near by outpost at Wood Mountain that served as a refuge camp for 500 Sioux families led by Sitting Bull. In 1896, Charcoal, a Blood Indian killed another native man and then went on a shooting spree ending with the deliberate and bloody murder of NWMP Sgt. Wilde Wm. Brock. Inspector Jarvis followed him until he was caught, tried and hung in 1897. Later that year when hundreds of prospectors headed for the Klondyke gold field through Fort Chipewyan and the fur trade river system, Jarvis was sent on a long winter patrol to prevent conflict. He was the first Canadian Government official to enforce Canadian law in that area.
In 1898 he was sent to Dalton Trail to maintain order during the Gold Rush and to establish a border custom station. Inspector Jarvis supervised 18 NWMP; they collected custom fees and captured several criminals. He built a fort at the base of the Chilkat trail and was at the spike ceremony for the completion of the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway in1899.

In 1900 a unit was formed to go to South Africa for the war. For his valor he was awarded the ” Companions of the Order of St Michael & St George”.

After 31 years he retired in 1912. In 1915, aged 51 he signed up to serve in World War I.

One in France and Flanders. He was appointed Lt. Col. and received the “Commander of the Order of the British Empire”.

He died in the General Hospital in Montreal, April 5 1930. The funeral was at St. Peters Church in Toronto and he was buried in St James Cemetery.

Colborne Dennis Jarvis (1864 – 1957)

Son of William Dummer Jarvis & Margaret Rannay

He joined the NWMP at Regina Oct. 7th 1887 and was discharged May 24th 1897 having completed one 5 year term, one 3 year term and part of a second 3 year term. He was educated at Trinity College School, Port Hope, was engaged with the Bank of Montreal in Winnipeg and left to survey. His application stated he understood the care and management of horses and could ride well. At Fort Saskatchewan Constable Jarvis was confirmed as a Corporal. At some point in time he was made a Sergeant. He purchased his discharge to take a lucrative offer at Kootanay.

He retired at Nelson B.C and died Dec. 21, 1957.

Frederick Starr Jarvis (1867 – ? )

Son of Arthur Murray Jarvis & Annie Stein Maclear

Fredrick engaged the NWMP at Winnipeg at the age of 18 and served for four different
engagement periods for a total of 17 years and 151 days. He had little education and his intelligence was listed as fair. His medical report stated that he was physically fit although he was deaf in one ear. Constable Jarvis served at Battleford, Calgary, Banff, Beaver, Prince-Albert and Fort-MacLeod. He served from Golden to Calgary during the construction of the CPR in the Rocky Mountains. In the 1885 Rebellion he served at Fort Carlton during the Duck Lake engagement and then transferred to Prince Albert. For this he was awarded the North West Medal and was given a grant of $300 in lieu of script.

The Commissioner in his final report states that his conduct during service was indifferent.

Among his transgressions he attempted to bribe a constable to assist him in running liquor. For this he went to prison for 3 months. On one occasion he neglected to obey an order and while in charge of a four in hand was reported drunk.

Note: Nov. 1955, Mrs. Ethel B.Toler 4132 Dorchester St. W. Montreal writes to RCMP Commissioner in Ottawa requesting the monthly pension to her father be readdressed in care of her at the above address.

William Morley Puncheon Jarvis (1870 – 1929)

In 1988 while at school at Trinity College, Port Hope he signed the Oath of Allegiance to the NWMP. He first served at Regina for 6 months, was then transferred to Maple Creek then to Medicine Hat in 1890. Finally transferred to Fort McLeod and Lethbridge before retiring after completing his 5 year term. His life following his retirement will be reported later.

Honoured Placed

Jarvis Bay Village Sylvan Lake Alb.

(near Jarvis Bay Provincial Park)

Is named after William Morley Puncheon Jarvis NWMP # 2083

Served 1888 – 1893 at Regina, Maple Creek, Medicine Hat, Fort McLeod, Lethbridge.

He moved to the Red Deer area in 1899 and opened up a lumber yard. In 1905 his family established a cottage at Sylvan Lake to which they gave their name. Jarvis Street in Red Deer is name after him. Mr. Jarvis died Oct. 6th 1929 and is buried in the Red Deer Cemetery.

Jarvis crescent, Edmonton is named after Inspector William Dummer Jarvis NWMP #0.2

Inspector Jarvis had previous military service with the British Army in the South African ” Kaffir War”. When he came to Canada he became the second officer appointed with the establishment of the NWMP on Sept. 25th 1873.

Jarvis Glacier B.C, on the northwestern tip of British Columbia and west of Bennett is named after Inspector Arthur Murray Jarvis NWMP # 0.104. As is Jarvis Park, Fort Saskatsawan, Jarvis River, Yukon, a tributary of the Kaskawulsh River named in 1889 for the first prospector in the area and Jarvis Street Whitehorse, Yukon.

The War Of 1812

Stephen, age 64 wrote an account of his life. I quote from his narrative his experiences in this war. He was 56 when the war began in June, 1812.

“I offered myself knowing I would be some use to the Militia and render service to my country. In the spring Major General Sheaffe who then commanded in Upper Canada gave me the appointment of Adjutant General to the Militia and I acted in that capacity when the American Army made a descent upon York, the 27th of April 1813. During the day I had several narrow escapes from the shot of the enemy’s cannon. One struck under my horses belly and several others very near me. After the enemy got possession of the Garrison Gen Shaeffe ordered the Magazine to be blown up and in the explosion many of the enemy were killed. The American General Pyke was also killed. The next morning we received our Paroles and as Adjutant General I certified the number of prisoners. After York was taken and myself a prisoner, I was dismissed from my military duties and applied myself to business.”

Stephen’s eldest son, Frederick Starr who was 25 at the outbreak of hostilities was affected also by the war. He had obtained a grant of land at Merigold Point. There he had built a log cabin and cleared 15 acres of land when war broke out and he was obliged to go into the army. He was listed as the Muster rolls as a lieutenant and as head of the Waggon Department of the 2nd Regiment, York Militia. As a member of the “short term” Militia he had to provide his own Musket and Ammunition and likely had to supply the wagon and horses and maintain them. The sword he carried in that war was the same one his father had used in the Revolutionary War.

George was 14 when the war broke out. He volunteered to go to Detroit but his father refused him permission. He slipped away to Niagara and enlisted anyway. His father seeing that opposition was useless got him into the 49th Regiment as a gentleman cadet. He took part in the Battle of Queenston Heights and was next the General Brock when he was killed. He was taken prisoner but exchanged a short time later. At sixteen General Sheaffe gave him command of one of the sections, the Grenadier Company of the 8th Regiment at York. He took into the field 25 men and returned with only 3, the rest being either killed or wounded. Now began a weary withdrawal to Kingston where George was selected to fill the position of Assistant commissary on the staff of General Sheaffe. He was then ordered to rejoin his regiment on the Niagara frontier. He commanded a company of that regiment during the conflict at Lundy’s Lane. Survived the battles of Stoney Creek, Beaver Dams, Black Rock, and Chippawa, during the month of August 1814 he was under constant fire and took in the final storming of Fort Erie.
George had during his military career served as cadet, corporal, sergeant, lieutenant, as bombardier, as commissionaire officer, captain, major, and lieutenant- colonel.

Samuel Peters was 20 when the war broke out. In 1810 he was articled to Attorney General Firth but his law studies in York were interrupted by the war. He joined Captain Stephen Heward’s 3rd Regiment of York Militia that assisted Major General Isaac Brock at the capture of Detroit and Queenston Heights. After that battle he acted as one of the pallbearers for Lt. Col. John Macdonell when he was interred with Brock at Fort George. He later saw action in engagements at Stoney Creek and Lundy’s Lane. He also obtained several minor administration posts during the war.