The following are the results of trips to the Simcoe County Registry Office.
Some of the information is impossible to read.
The lots in Medonte were laid out in 200 acre(more or less) parcels starting at the south end, next to the Township of Oro.
The Concessions were laid out starting at the West side at Craighurst.
Thus Jarratt was at the junction of Lot 1 Medonte, Lot 1 Oro, and West side of Concessioin 11 and the East side of Consession 10.
The settlers came in the early 1830's but did not have deeds issued until later.
West 1/2 Lot 1 Concession 11 was issued a Crown Patent (deed) to a Thomas Thornton in 1843.
This is the proporty that the "Castle" was on, the garage and corner store were on, and some houses at various times.
In 1850 James Williamson owned it.
In 1852, James Beard 1st purchased the SW 50 acre parcel.This would be the corner lot at Jarratt, fronting on the 10th and the Township border with Oro, now called Horseshoe Valley Road.
In 1857 Malcalm Carmicheal purchased a 1/2 acre lot.
In 1858 James Beard sold to Joseph Beard this SW 50 acres.
This was probably Joseph (Josie)(Smith)Beard who was married to Eliza Beard and took the name Beard.
In 1864, Luke Leatherdale purchased 1/2 acre.
Several other pieces were taken off at various dates.
In 1926, Arthur Beard obtained, or had obtained several quit claims. The propery was fragmented, the "Castle" was apparently empty.
Quit claims were registered from David Reid, John McNabb, and Joseph Beard (deceased). We know this to be Josie (Smith) Beard.
There was also a 1912 Quit claim from James Beard of Farmington New Jersey, New York.
This was probably Arthurs older half brother.
Arthur obtained all of the 200 acres of Lot 1, Conc. 11 with the exception of the small lots at Jarratt.
This property was then purchased by William, Arthurs oldest son in 1931, and the "castle" was torn down. Some of the lumber was used to build Williams house at Jarratt.
There are at present, some lots at Jarratt off this property.
The corner lot was the store that was owned by Percy and Ethel (Beard) Oakley.
Beards Farm Supply is located on this property.
The 200 acre parcel was granted to James 1st in 1851. This was the home place.
The east 100 acres fronting on the 11th line was deeded to Robert in May 1857.
He was the one who started using the name Baird.
In 1911, the east 100 was deeded to Ellen, his widow, then to Matthew Baird of Orillia, Roberts son.
He sold it to James Williamson in 1911.
The west 100 acres of Lot 2 was were the Beard home was located.
It went from James 1 to John 1 in 1884.
It was transferred to Arthur in 1913.
In 1943, Hilton obtained it.
John McKinley obtained the Patent for the east 100 acres in 1845
The north west 50 acres was issued a crown patent in 1857 to Dougald Thompson.
It went to his wife Maria, then Archibald and John McKinley.
The southwest 50 acres was crown deeded to John Bell in 1847.
His widow sold it to Edward Luck in 1894
Arthur Beard purchased it in 1906.
James 5 purchased it from Arthur in 1950.
With this lot there appears to be some confusion regarding the ownership. The east and west 50 acres were owned by Joseph Burnham, and his son Clifford in separate ownerships in the 1920's. Joseph, Cliffords father owned the East 50 acres and Cliff owned the west 50 acres. This is factual according to Josephs grand daughter. The records are confusing and may be inaccurate.
The E 1/4 was issued a Crown Deed to William Switzer in 1842.
In 1873 there was a transfer to Edward Switzer.
It was sold to Joe Burnham in 1912.
It was sold to James Beard in 1943. He was married to Joe Burnham's grand daughter.
It was then sold to Carl Maxwell in 1949.
This is the lot that the Methodest Church was on, and the camp-grounds for revivals.
The foundation of the church was still there in the 1950's, but has been removed.
It was about 300'? west of the 10th line.
The West 50 acres farther from Jarratt was Crown deeded to Martin Switzer in 1842.
In 1872 it went to Edward Switzer.
In 1874 it was owned by Joshua Switzer.
Clifford Burnham owned it in 1918
This property has a pond on the side of Horseshoe Valley Road. The pond was a result of clay for bricks being dug out. The two houses which are on the two above properties are built with the bricks from this pond as well as many others in the area.
The North fifty acres of this lot was the "wet fifty"
The Crown deed was issued in 1840 to James Beard.
They apparently lived here the first year, then built across the road in the 11th concession.
James son John left it to Arthur, who left it to James 5th.
The west 100 acres fronting on the 9th was obtained from the crown by a John Seager.
He also owned the West 100 acres of Lot 3.
The records show that James Cook purchased the SW 50 acres in 1939, and William Cook purchased the NW 50 acres. These both fronted on the 9th line.
James property backed on to John Cook and Sarah (Beard) Cook's property.
This 200 acres was given/deeded to William Kirsopp of Whitchurch in 1833.
He apparently lived in Whitchurch.
Mary Beard, daughte of James 1st married John Kirsopp.
In 1842, it was sold to Robert Baker of King Township, then to an Agnes Bruce of Vespra.
He sold the East 100 acres to Charles Jarratt in August 1849.
The west 100 acres had various lots taken off at Jarratt.
They ranged in size from one fifth of an acre to about one and one half acres.
John Bell, got a lot then it appeared to come back in 1859
James Beard, son of John Beard got a parcel from James the Elder in April 1861.
In 1863, James McClean of Oro had a lot.
Duncan McKinlay got one fifth an acre from James Beard Jr. in Jan. 1866.
A lot in trust was for Willis Church was registered in May 1868. The trustees apparently were Duncan McKinlay and John McClean. It was from James Mclean.
In April 1869 to John McClean from James Beard, a lot.
There are several transfers of lots, some of the names are, Samual Cotton, Samual Cotton the Younger, Andrew Mcnabb, Jeremiah Orser, Luke Leatherdale, Andrew McAlpine of Lindsay, Henry Turcotte, and Thomas W Oliver.
In 1881, James 2 Beard died.
His will stated that his widow Jane (his second wife)shall have the use of two rooms in the house. The rest of the property was to go his son John (4th).
The Land Office Records show an agreement of Jane Beard to John, subject to a will.
In 1884 John Beard sold the balance of the 100 acres to John McClean.
In 1894, John Beard of Medonte sold a school site of one acre to the trustees.
It is not clear which John Beard is referred to above. The 100 acres would be John 4th, Jame 2nd's son, but the school lot was sold by John Beard of Medonte.