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Nominated name: COL. DAVID SHANK LANE

Nominated by:
Nadine Feldman

Suggested Location: City Lane Number: #0701
Described Location: Bound by: Vermont, Palmerston Ave., Dupont and Bathurst. Runs N-S between (one-way N) from Vermont to Dupont.
At Vermont looking north At Dupont looking south

Rationale and References:

The original nomination was a combination of names Aeneas Shaw and Davis Shank: "Shawshank Lane". However, Shaw's property was west of Seaton village, but Shanks' property within. (See: The Town of York 1793-1815, by Edith Firth, p.16. for descriptions of Petitions for Land.) Further, both Shaw and Shank Streets exist and actually, intersect near King Street which could confuse EMS services. Thus, David Shank Lane could be considered. His lands were later purchased by George Crookshank, whose Real Estate plans to sell off lots, formed Seaton Village.

"Many of the original patentees to land in the Town of York were friends and relatives of our first Lieutenant Governor, John Graves SIMCOE. Two such friends were Col. David SHANK and Capt. Samuel SMITH, both of whom served with Simcoe in the Queen's Rangers during the American Revolution. In fact all the Park Lots west of Bathurst Street were granted to military men: Col. David SHANK, Capt. MacDONNELL (who was aide-de-camp of General Brock), Capt. Samuel SMITH, and Capt. Aneas SHAW (another captain in the Queen's Rangers). The Queen's Rangers (named to honour Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III) were the successor to Roger's Rangers. SIMCOE was appointed colonel from 1791-1796; Samuel SMITH succeeded him until 1798, whereupon David SHANK held the post until 1799."

See: https://www.torontoneighbourhoods.net/regions/toronto_central/42.html