Circumstances
The schooner was set to sail from York (population 345), present day Queen's Quay, Toronto (York) - the young capital of Upper Canada, to the district town of Newcastle (population 20) on Presqu'ile Point (now Presqu'ile Provincial Park) for a prominent murder trial ostensibly to 'legitimize' a newly-built district courthouse.
Ogetonicut, a member of the Ojibway tribe, was accused of having murdered trading post operator John Sharpe near Lake Scugog exacting revenge for his brother; Whistling Duck murdered at the hands of said trading post operator. Although Ogetonicut was arrested near York, the crime had allegedly been committed in Newcastle District, and under British law of the time one had to be tried in the jurisdiction in which the crime was purported to have been committed.
Speedy was also carrying six handwritten copies of the new Constitution of Upper Canada, supplies, a Royal surveyor, John Stegman, a former Hessian soldier, to help in the planning, construction and expansion of the fledgling district town, which consisted of nothing more than the three-story courthouse/jail, a handful of residences and a survey plan.
Sir Robert Isaac Dey Grey (of Bruce-Grey county fame) first solicitor-general for the fledgling province-of-Ontario provincial government.
The first provincial law-enforcement officer to lose their lives in the execution of office was also to be found aboard the Speedy. "High Constable Fisk was transporting a prisoner to court in Newcastle on the "HMS Speedy". The boat never arrived and the officer and prisoner were never heard from again. It is believed that the boat sank in a storm. Constable Fisk had 2 years service at the time of his disappearance."
Because of the location and geography of the area, as well as its location closer to the key community of Kingston, Ontario, there was speculation that Newcastle would eventually be designated the new capital of Upper Canada. York was deemed unsavory and unsuitable for such office. As it was populated as many fledgling British outposts were; by "convicts and prostitutes."
The execution of Ogetonicut - in the new town square - following his trial - would bring attention and renown to the area and define it as a centre for strong governmental jurisprudence.
Read more about this topic: HMS Speedy (1798)