When William Jarvis was in England, preparing to sail for Upper Canada, he wrote the following to a relative in New Brunswick. It seems to give a sense of the man:I am in possession of my sign manual from His Majesty constituting me Secretary and Registrar of the Province of Upper Canada, with the power of appointing my Deputies, and in every other respect a full warrant. I am also very much flattered to be able to inform you that the Grand Lodge of England have within these very few days appointed Prince Edward [the Duke of Kent, father of Queen Victoria – ed.], who is now in Canada, Grand Master of Ancient Masons in Lower Canada; and William Jarvis, Secretary and Registrar of Upper Canada, Grand Master of Ancient Masons in that Province. However trivial it may appear to you who are not a Mason, yet I assure you that it is one of the most honourable appointments that they could have conferred. The Duke of Athol is the Grand Master of Ancient Masons in England. Lord Dorchester with his private Secretary, and the Secretary of the Province, called on us yesterday and found us in the utmost confusion, with half a dozen porters in the house packing up. However his Lordship would come in, and sat down in a small room which was reserved from the general bustle …Letter of March 28, 1792. From Henry Scadding’s Toronto of Old, pp. 202-3.
      Jarvis had become a Mason one month before becoming “Grand Master of Ancient Masons in Upper Canada.” After a few years in his august position, the Masons of Upper Canada tried to force Jarvis out of his position, accusing him of being lazy and incompetent.
      William Jarvis was often referred to by contemporaries as “Mr. Secretary Jarvis,” a title mocking his pretentiousness.