ISSN 1206-4394

The Heritage Gazette of the Trent Valley Volume 6, number 2, August 2001

Table of Contents

The Heritage Gazette of the Trent Valley 2 Trent Valley Archives 2 Membership 3 Manager’s Report Keith Dinsdale 3 Books : featuring Sherrell Branton Leetooze on Durham County Fairview Heritage Centre 3 The Diaries of John A. Geddes, General Storekeeper R.B. Fleming 4 The Parochial Registers of Scotland Bob Dunford 6 Queries Bill Amell and Marguerite Young 6 Carey / Carew; Cooney; Hamel; Reilly; Manly P. Hall Don Cournoyea Collection Peterborough Examiner I. Worked on Pioneer Farm Like a Man Woman [Mrs Ellen Conroy] Relates on 91st Birthday 7 II. Blacksmithed for 50 years George Worboy retires 8 III. Bank Block $150,000 Building Sale [Hunter & Water, Peterborough] 8 The Old Peterborough Protestant Home Elwood H. Jones 9 The Gypsies that visited Peterborough in 1909 Elwood H. Jones 10 Howard Pammett’s Peterborough Irish : serialization, part 6 Howard Pammett 13 Chapter 5 (part 2) Early Settlement North of Rice Lake 13 Chapter 6 Moving the Emigrants to Scott’s Plains 17 Irish Research: Hickey Family 22 Ellis Island Database 22 Peterborough Photographers 1847-1900 Fraser Dunford 23 R. D. Ewing Photographic and Fine Art Gallery 24 Green & Son, Photographers 25 Photographers, 1901 Farmers and Business Directory 1901 25 PCMA Acquires War-time Military Records 25 New Elgin County Archives Established Brian Masschaele 25 AAO Meets in Black Creek Pioneer Village 26 Archival Continuing Education 26 Trent Valley Archives: A. B. Tolmie Fonds 27 Anson House History launching 30 Peterborough Pathway of Fame 30 In Memoriam: Olga Dyer 31 Recently Noted Publications 31 Ken Brown, Invention of the Board Canoe; Marjorie Shephard, Moments in Time; newspapers Fairview Heritage Centre 32 Cover photo: When Lord Dufferin visited Blairton in summer of 1874 32 Trent Valley Archives / Trent Valley Ancestral Research / Heritage Gazette 32

Cover photo: Trent Valley Archives, Fonds 18, Dyer fonds, #85 [see page 32 for comments]

Fairview Heritage Centre 567 Carnegie Avenue Peterborough Ontario K9L 1N1

(705) 745-4404 [email protected] www.trentvalleyarchives.com The Heritage Gazette of the Trent Valley Volume 6, number 2, August 2001 2

Other significant collections include Lakefield newspapers since 1949, the Trent Valley Archives radio archives of Frank Schoales, and The Heritage Gazette the personal archives of Howard Trent Valley Ancestral of the Trent Valley Pammett, J. Alex Edmison, Archie Research Tolmie, Albert Hope, and others. ISSN 1206-4394 Recently, we have been adding the following archival records: Delledone Fairview Heritage Centre Your five counties archives centre collection on Lakefield’s history; the 567 Carnegie Avenue Archives * Heritage * Genealogy Anson House archives, 1862 to the Peterborough ON K9L 1N1 present; the Dyer family papers related to the history of Peterborough, (705) 745-4404 Fairview Heritage Centre [email protected] recreational activities (including a 567 Carnegie Avenue magnificent archive related to pigeon Peterborough ON K9L 1N1 racing in the 1960s and 1970s). There www.trentvalleyarchives.com (705) 745-4404 are now 35 collections of archival [email protected] records relating to various aspects of Editor: Victoria and Peterborough counties. Elwood Jones, [email protected] www.trentvalleyarchives.com In addition to the Research Room Editorial Board: Library, the Trent Valley Archives has books, journals and newsletters Keith Dinsdale Trent Valley Archives was founded in relating to archival organizations, the Andre Dorfman 1988, and incorporated in 1989. It is history and function of archives, and Fraser Dunford a public advocacy group promoting issues surrounding freedom of Rae Fleming the preservation, identification and information, legislation relating to care of archives. It has also Don Willcock municipal government, Hansard for advocated more liberal access to the 1980s, Journals of the House of archival collections, and a recognition Commons and Senate, for the 1980s, Advertising accepted that freedom of information laws and other books relating to farming, should be exactly that. In particular it public history, architectural and other The Heritage Gazette of the Trent Valley favours the development of public issues. is published by the Trent Valley regional and county archives, or Archives, for its members. barring that strong municipal archives. The Trent Valley Archives Ancestral It realizes that reorganizations of Research Committee oversees our We welcome articles relating to local governments lead to inadvertent many ventures in family history, and and family history, and to archives, or to destruction of records and offers help researching the many queries that we the methods by which one may pursue in meeting such difficulties. receive. Our Reading Room houses a these. Reviews of books or institutions significant library of local books, are encouraged. We also include It encourages businesses and cemetery records, family histories, information about the activities of our organizations to include archiving as and some of our microfilm collections. various committees and projects. a part of their records management Our growing Genealogy Program programs. It assists individuals in computer database contains over The information and opinions expressed keeping archives or find-ing suitable 132,000 names, mainly connected to are those of the contributors and not homes. It has accepted archival original families of the Trent Valley. necessarily those of the Trent Valley documents and fonds when Archives or its directors. necessary and the move to the The Irish Heritage Research Centre Fairview Heritage Centre was partly has a fine and growing collection of prompted by the need to make its ©2001 Trent Valley Archives pamphlets, magazines and other holdings accessible. materials relating to research on Irish migration and family history on both Any copying, downloading or uploading Our holdings include microfilm sides of the Atlantic. The Trent Valley without the explicit consent of the editor records of the Roman Catholic Archives now has holdings that relate is prohibited. Classroom use is Diocese of Peterborough, St John’s to child migration, as well. encouraged, but please inform the editor Anglican Church Archives, and the of such use. censuses of the five counties for 1871 New materials are being added all the and for all census years in time. Membership in the Trent Valley Peterborough county, 1851 to 1901. Archives continues to grow. The Heritage Gazette of the Trent Valley Volume 6, number 2, August 2001 3

program is well over 130,000 names and being rearranged to accommodate it. An the 4-drawer cabinet is becoming quite architect has been engaged to draft Membership full of material from this region. specifications to protect and preserve this historic building and its collections. The reading room is open to We now have an 866 pentium 3 computer Hopefully our applications for grants will members from Monday to Friday, 10 for members to access the holdings cover most of the costs but donations are to 4:30, and other times by (compared to the old 286 we had seven always welcomed and tax receipts issues. appointment. Annual memberships, years ago) ; it is lightening for the internet $40. Special rates for university also. TVA is also on inter-loan with the The grounds are looking quite nice, students can be arranged.. The major National and Ontario Archives, so it will thanks to Don’s green thumb. And benefits of membership are not be as necessary to make those terribly parking lot renovations should be done unlimited use of the reading room at expensive trips to Ottawa and Toronto. soon. the Fairview Heritage Centre, All members please notify us of any The Never Give Up Department subscription to Heritage Gazette of change to your e-mail and postal the Trent Valley, invitations to addresses. Last October a member in Seattle sent a special events, and opportunities to request to find all we could on the Walsh help in the diverse work of the Trent Many Thanks Dept / Doran family of Hastings county. Our Valley Archives, of the Trent Valley research here came up with very little and Archives Ancestral Research 1. To Jean Amm for her work on the the Tweed Heritage Centre likewise could committee, of the Irish Heritage Cournoyea newspaper collection., and offer little assistance. The file was put in committee and various other the donation of the book on Northern the out basket and subsequently forgotten heritage activities. Ontario. until the member renewed the inquiry in 2. To Cy Monkman for the Yorkshire May. The staff member, somewhat Board of Directors material [the largest and prettiest disheartened, sent what there was. That county in the UK] night he and his wife went to an Irish William Amell 3. To Martha Kidd, Rena Darling, J. Club pub nite. While having a pint, Keith Dinsdale Coursey, Kay O’Brien, Rosemary listening to the good music and chatting, Andre Dorfman McConkey and others who have one of the McGuiness sisters mentioned Ronald Doughty donated valuable reference material. receiving a letter from Seattle, requesting Fraser Dunford 4. To Bill Amell and the volunteers who family history information. “Oh no,” our Robert Dunford went through over 3000 boxes to find staff member said, “I just got off the Rae Fleming and finally return all the OGS material phone with her this afternoon and she was Elwood Jones, President that had been in our care. [We are really upset that we couldn’t find anything Martha Ann Kidd. lending the Kawartha branch OGS two on her Walsh / Doran family.” The Dr John Martyn microfiche readers for their new McGuiness sister said that was their Jim Moloney location at the De la Fosse library] family. The next morning the lady from Don Willcock 5. To the media: Katchawanooka Herald, Seattle was informed of the miracle, and Marguerite Young Peterborough Examiner, Peterborough was very excited about finding these This Week and Prime Time for their family connections. And the sisters were coverage of TVA, the Fairview inspired to start digging. Heritage Centre and CAP. Manager’s Report Story Two. Rick had been searching for Keith Dinsdale Cap Division Report over two years in our files, in the Archives of Ontario, and elsewhere in the area and Research Division Report Karri Fraser and Phil Smith have done an had almost given up on ever finding an excellent job in getting the 11 computers, early marriage. As a last resort he decided The Queries staff has been most efficient scanners and printers up and running for to check out other denominations and in solving the problems and search the growing number of users with a high check not only for the groom but also for requests that have been sent in and this is percentage of the learners using their new the bride. While we were having the probably due to the large number of skills to start doing family history both in official opening of the CAP centre he was donated family histories and source the research room and on the internet. doing his research over in one corner material that has been accumulated. We when he jumped up from his chair saying have received many letters and calls of Property Report “I found it! I found it!” The groom’s name thanks. As volunteers this cheers us up. he had been looking for was MEARS Very shortly we will be receiving a 600 married to a Grizelle but in the church One donation was a disk of 22,000 cubic foot collection of invaluable record it was shown as HEARN married names, what a help! Our genealogy research material and the collections are to a Grizelle. Because the entries were The Heritage Gazette of the Trent Valley Volume 6, number 2, August 2001 4

handwritten it was quite easy to Trent Valley Archives Books a dance hall on the second floor of the mistakenly transcribe from the licence. Fairview Heritage Centre building. Geddes had a large storehouse, probably at the back of his store, and it Stay tuned for the next issue and you 567 Carnegie Avenue was there that he held many a community will be amazed to learn that one of the Peterborough ON K9L 1N1 dance. On 20 June 1925, he noted: "Had largest family names in the area has been dance in Store House. Big crowd out, incorrect for over 100 years. some from Carleton Place, here." It’’s a (705) 745-4404 simple enough entry, but it tells us [email protected] something about how and where the local www.trentvalleyarchives.com folk from near and far –– Carleton Place Books was quite a distance away in 1925, perhaps an hour or two from Snow Road on Genealogy and Local History –– entertained themselves in rural and general interest Ontario. Geddes does not say whether or The Diaries of John A. not he charged an admission fee, nor We carry an amazing array of books G e d d e s , G e n e r a l whether or not he sold the ice cream that and other items related to local the dancers enjoyed. In September of the history, family history and Storekeeper same year, he reported that attendance was genealogy. We have some out-of- by R B Fleming down at his dance, perhaps because he print titles and we are always willing "had no ice cream". He does not say One of the recent acquisitions of Queen’s to help those seeking an elusive title. whether or not the store itself was open University Archives is a collection of Ask us about archival supplies for during the dance, but even if he sold papers that demonstrate the value of local the preservation of your photos, nothing that evening, the dance was one records. The ledgers and diaries of general letters and memorabilia. Browsers way of building good public relations, storekeeper John A Geddes are in many welcome. which no doubt resulted in improved sales ways similar to the kind of records or at least in maintaining customer loyalty. collected by the Trent Valley Archives. So We carry, for example, all the works uneventful do they seem to the untrained Stores across the country were important of Sherrell Branton Latooze, the eye that they are often consigned to the centres of information, which included writer and storyteller based in recycling bin. And yet beneath their tales of local events such as the wedding Bowmanville. She undertook to write surface swirl currents of information that of Geddes’ son in 1939, an event recorded the history of Durham county one deal not only with the day-to-day events in his diary on 12 July. "Got aunt Viola piece at a time, and from 1996 to in a community, but with national and and uncle Jack to keep store," he adds. No 1998 succeeded in doing so. Most international affairs. Therefore these doubt his aunt and uncle had many a titles are available individually, but papers are of the utmost importance in discussion of the big day in Renfrew, the boxed set of seven books has the lifting the veil on the social, economic and where the wedding took place. No doubt histories of Cavan, Cartwright, psychological lives of our ancestors. during the following weeks the storekeeper and his wife recounted tales of Manvers, Hope, Darlington and Of the large collection of Geddes papers, the event and the journey to and from Clarke townships, as well as an easily the most interesting are the diaries Renfrew. index volume. The set is special to kept by John Geddes. Beginning in 1907, members for $127.80; those available when he worked in the lumber industry in In the evenings, the store was also a separately sell for $18.95. The books order to save money to invest in a store, gathering place for people, mostly men. are strongest on churches, schools, and stretching to mid-20th century, The absence of women in the evening taverns, roads, the military, industry Geddes noted details of prices, shopping suggests that it was they who tended to and the geographic areas. habits, local dances, births, deaths, household duties including putting the weddings and news of the world. While children to bed. "Harry Budd, Laurence In addition to the brief histories demonstrating the value of local and Mervin Brownlee in during evening," series, Latooze has written other documents, Geddes’ diaries provide an Geddes reported on 13 September 1939, books which we are carrying. She insight into the important roles once "And stayed until 10-20... Radio reports compiled Hotels, Inns and Taverns of played by general stores and by their say Warsaw is yet holding out and that Old Durham County (n.d.), The Crew of owners in the daily lives of our ancestors. Poles are driving Germans back." The news about Polish resistance and success the Flagship (1988), and Putting Flesh As well as selling daily necessities such as probably tells us more about what the on the bones of your Devon and clothing, shoes, sugar, kerosene and storekeeper and his customers wanted to Cornwall ancestors (2000); prices on anything else needed by the community hear than what was actually transpiring in these titles range between $10 and but not grown on farms or made in Warsaw. $13. villages, the store provided a meeting place for the community. Often stores had The entry conjures up a picture of the four The Heritage Gazette of the Trent Valley Volume 6, number 2, August 2001 5

men, the storekeeper and his three in the evening, when workmen were local justice of the peace, and his customers/visitors standing around in finished their work, the banks were customers were often the unofficial jury. silence while the war reports come in, closed. Since general stores did not close The storekeeper often acted as a welfare probably on a rather crackly reception, until late in the evening, and Timothy agent. In the days before state welfare, on the store’’s radio, which may have Eaton, a general storekeeper before which dates mostly to the 1940s, the store been a large floor model typical of the founding his retailing empire in Toronto ‘‘carried’’ many members of the 1930s. Some of the men may have been about 1870, was typical of most community in tough times, especially smoking pipes (in archives across storekeepers when he reported that his during the Depression of the 1930s, and Canada, there are many photographs of store in St Mary’’s, Ontario, never closed often in good times, because the collecting men smoking pipes and gossiping in until the last customer was served and the of an old debt was almost always on the general stores, often around the last story was told. honour system, and many customers were proverbial pot bellied stove, and indeed In the mid-20th century, one storekeeper not honourable. Most retired general Geddes notes that he did light the fire in near Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, was storekeepers today, or their children, will the store stove that evening), and the once awakened in the middle of the night. tell you that the greatest irritant was old storekeeper may have sold them pipe and Neighbours had just received news of the debts. If pressed too hard to pay, a chewing tobacco that evening, and sudden death of a relative in northern customer could always go off and shop at perhaps a few groceries that their wives Manitoba, and they wanted to start the the store in the next village. In one Nova or housekeepers had written down on a long drive immediately. They were short Scotia store, when a storekeeper asked list. In between reports of the German of cash and gas. And where better (where politely for payment, the customer told entry into Warsaw, the men probably else!) to turn but the general storekeeper? him, "You’’ll see Ireland on a foggy day discussed the beginnings of the war in The storekeeper opened his safe, lent them before I pay you that bill." Europe, and perhaps its impact on young the money and served them gas. They "put Canadian soldiers. In 1939, war was Storekeepers served their communities in it on the bill," a common expression in all imagined as stalemate, trenches and the other ways not mentioned by Geddes. (English speaking) general stores, and deaths of millions of men. The Great They sat on township councils. They often headed north to Thompson, Manitoba for War, which had created these images, organized the local fire department, and the funeral. had concluded a mere twenty years provided a place to store the engine. earlier. The bombing of civilians must The fact that the storekeeper kept cash on Because they were thought to be "doin’’ have struck the men as odd. (The Geddes the premises made the store attractive to nothing anyway" they were asked to serve diary, cryptic and suggestive as most robbers. Some of them came armed. as pall bearers and witnesses at weddings. diaries tend to be, encourages reader During the early 1930s, John Diefenbaker Or to change a fuse for a nervous speculation.) was called upon to defend a young man neighbour. who killed a storekeeper in Saskatchewan In 1944, as the war was turning in favour Indeed service to the community was so during an attempted robbery. The man of the Allies, the Geddes diaries mention imbued into one old storekeeper in was about to elope with his pregnant one of the many roles played by general Somerset, Manitoba, that his final act was girlfriend, and they desperately needed stores. Stores had hefty safes, a word that a mime. On his deathbed, he reached up some money. It was one of the rare cases has altered over time, but which until at and grabbed a piece of string hanging that defeated the brilliant defense lawyer least the mid-1950s referred to the heavy from an imagined cast iron holder above and future Prime Minister. The young steel boxes with combination locks built his head. Then he wrapped a parcel, rolled man was hanged in 1934. into the huge doors, in which the it over, tied the string securely and storekeeper kept money overnight, and Given all these banking roles, it is not snapped it with his slim gnarled fingers. surplus money during the day. The safe surprising that banks often used existing His children stood mesmerized. They was sometimes used by customers as a stores as a branch, rather than building a could imagine the parcel. Having wrapped safety deposit box. The store in effect separate building. In 1900 a general store up his life and broken the cord, he became a bank. Because stores almost in Léévis, Quéébec, because the first departed this world. branch of the Caisse Desjardins. The always had cash on hand, the storekeeper Today, general stores are barely remem- storekeeper thus was also a banker, a role cashed cheques. On 16 August 1944, bered. Many of them have been converted that he had been playing for years anyway, with one eye (and ear) on the Allied into homes or apartments. A few have and at the same time an economic dynasty invasion of southern France, Geddes been moved to museums, where there are in French Canada was born, thanks in part reported that the "CPR gang got all their no pungent smells or no bad debts. Many to a general store in Léévis. cheques today and I had quite a time stores have been abandoned or destroyed getting them signed and cashed," in all There are other general store roles not by fire. A few, very few, continue as about $600.00 worth of cheques, a mentioned by Geddes, and perhaps not general stores, where amazingly food and considerable sum of money for a performed in his store. Historian Jean clothing are still "put on the bill" and storekeeper to have on hand, the result, Cole notes in her history of South where gossip is exchanged while the no doubt, of several days sales. The area Monaghan that one storekeeper in the area storekeeper waits on the customer. probably had at least one small bank, but south of Peterborough played the role of The Heritage Gazette of the Trent Valley Volume 6, number 2, August 2001 6

census, parochial registers and statutory parents were John Henry Carey (19-3-35) The Geddes store at Snow Road Station registers. and Helen McBride. He was a fireman in no longer functions as a store, except in Peterborough and a son of George Carey the imagination of researchers at Each register could contain information (1860-1905) and Mary Webster. The next Queen’’s University Archives where the related to births, marriages and deaths. generation was George Carey sr (1820-93) general store of John A Geddes comes The author details the condition of each and Catherine Logan who resided in alive amidst the boxes and papers and register. For instance, in the county of Otonabee twp, near Keene and raised a the high ceilings of the reading room. Ross and Cromarty, the parish of Lochs large family: Mary, Esther, John, Out of those papers, especially the has no registers prior to 1831 and between Redmond, Margaret, George, James, and storekeeper’’s diary, emerge customers 1831 and1854, only entries births and Catherine. who once shopped, told stories and marriages, not deaths, appear. With this danced. Importantly these diaries knowledge, time is not spent trying to find In the four censuses, 1851-81, the family preserve the voice of one of the the death of an individual in this particular surname is Carew. In the Peterborough thousands of storekeepers across Canada parish register. Historical Atlas, 1875, George and John who for centuries served their Carew were at Con IX lot 17 in Otonabee communities, and, at least in Geddes’’ For the parish register of Stevenson, in the twp. In the 1891 and 1901 censuses, the case, recorded them for posterity. county of Ayrshire, we learn that there are surname is Carey. Is there an explanation Importantly too the Trent Valley irregular entries for births between for this variation in family surname about Archives is home to many collections of November 1718 and May 1737. It also 1890? papers that await researchers with contains several imperfect pages for the historical skills and inquisitive same time period. In September 1811, George Carey sr was born about 1820 in imaginations. two pages contain about ninety irregular Ireland. We would appreciate comments ( Queen’s University Archives, A. Arch entries for 1720-1814. Someone was on whether he arrived in Canada as an 5140, Geddes Snow Road Station Fonds) trying to bring the records up-to-date. We 1825 Robinson settler. also learn that very few mothers’ names are recorded between November 1746 and Loretta M. Kane February 1770. 19 - 12880 Railway Avenue The Parochial Registers Richmond BC V7B 6G2 I guarantee that if you are researching of Scotland ancestors from Scotland this book will be Cooney by Bob Dunford highly valued! Searching maternal ancestry. Patrick The Trent Valley Archives, as an aid for Cooney emigrated from Droughadea researching genealogists, has recently (Drogheda, Co Louth?) Ireland and came acquired the Key to the Parochial to Canada about 1830. He married Registers of Scotland. This great work Queries Elizabeth Ward and resided in Montreal was originally published in 1872 in Bill Amell and Marguerite Young for awhile; then moved to New York state Edinburgh and covers from earliest times where he worked on the estate of Martin through 1854. The information We get many inquiries from our members Van Buren, US president 1837-41. A contained within was compiled by V. and we are happy to oblige in what-ever short time prior to the US Civil War the Ben Bloxham who is an instructor at ways possible. When requested we pass Cooney family returned to Canada. Brigham Young University. the questions to our readers in this popular column. If you have responses to these During 1861 census, the family was listed Key to the Parochial Registers of queries we would welcome hearing from in N Monaghan twp, Peterborough co Scotland is an absolute goldmine, you at the Fairview Heritage Centre, so we ON: Patrick Cooney 50, nurseryman, exceptionally well-organized. There are can add the information to our growing Elizabeth 46, John 23, Francis 16. A 33 counties in Scotland and each is files. It is always great to hear from decade later they still lived there near the identified by its name and also a number. satisfied customers, too. town of Peterborough. Six counties have been renamed, e.g. Direct your queries to Bill Amell or Edinburghshire is now Midlothian. Each Marguerite Young at the Fairview John W. Cooney married Mary Ann parish of the Church of Scotland was Heritage Centre, 567 Carnegie Avenue, O’Callaghan of Norwood in 1870. they assigned a number which was Peterborough ON K9L 1N1. had a couple of children and moved to determined by arranging the parishes in Montana. Their son Francis H. became alphabetical order within their respective Carey / Carew state governor in 1933. His obituary “Old counties and then numbering them Norwood Boy” was published in the consecutively throughout all of Scotland. This member interested in her Carey Peterborough Examiner,16 Dec 1935 These numbers are a means of reference ancestry. There is some folklore that the [and appeared in the Heritage Gazette of and are often needed when searching surname was originally Carew. Grand the Trent Valley, II, 1 (June 1998) 2.] The Heritage Gazette of the Trent Valley Volume 6, number 2, August 2001 7

Member searching for grave site of RC Church in Colgan ON. James Reilly Ontario. Patrick Cooney and his wife Elizabeth Sr died in 1856. The family resided on a Ward somewhere in Ontario. farm in Adjala twp, Simcoe co, near We would be interested in learning more Alliston ON. about William Hall’s family. We also Dana L. Kiehl would like to know something about 4732 Dorsey Hall Dr #901 John Reilly married Ellen Quirk circa Louisa Hall, the mother. Ellicott City MD 21042 USA 1860. A decade later, Peter Reilly married Bridget Quirk, sister to Ellen. The two If you can help, please contact Elwood Hamel families moved to Crystal ND, where they Jones at [email protected] or (705) 743- were listed in 1880 census and in 1885. 0231. According to the book Genealogie de la famille Hamel, Jean-B Hamel b. 1831 at A few years later Peter moved his family St Nicolas along south shore of the St a hundred miles back across the Red River Lawrence River a few miles west of to Badger MN. They were the pioneers of Quebec City, son of Jean-B Hamel and that town. Peter died during a blizzard in D o n C o u r n o y e a Julienne Filtreau. 1892 and was buried at Hallock MN. His Collection wife Bridget survived until 1922 and I During 1861 census Jean-B Hamel, age buried at Badger MN. Three sons: James, 23, and his wife Mary Quinn, age 22, Peter and Edward remained bachelors and resided in Otonabee twp, Peterborough buried there also. Worked on Pioneer Farm co. Apparently no marriages were recorded between June 1861 and Oct Another son, William Reilly (b Ontario) Like a Man Woman st 1861 in the marriage register for St married Charlotte Lofgren in Minnesota Relates on 91 Birthday Peter’s RC Parish. This omission is a and moved to British Columbia. mystery as many baptisms were recorded Grandfather died in 1956 and buried at An Examiner reporter called on Mrs Ellen at that time. Nakusp along the Columbia River. Conroy at her home on the 8th concession of Otonabee township on Thursday They had several children during the Seeking information as to whereabouts of afternoon. It was her 91st birthday. // next two decades: Julia Anne, Catherine, Catherine (Delmer) Reilly, daughter Ann “Young man,” she warned at the door, Mary Jane, John, Elizabeth, Sophia, married James Ferguson and her brothers “I’ve paid up my newspaper subscription Maria, Richard John (aka James), Thomas and James Reilly. They left prior for the next year.” // “But I want to talk to Francis, Frederick and William Joseph. to 1861 census for Adjala twp. you about your birthday,” said the By 1881 census the family had moved to reporter. And that put an entirely different Chandos twp and resided near Clyesdale. Mrs Jean Madsen face on the reason for the call. Julia Hamel married Robert Donoghue in PO Box 58 Mrs Conroy was as sharp as a tack. She 1885. She was the only sibling to marry Proctor BC V0G 1V0 continued sewing on a patchwork quilt in this region. By 1891 the oldest seven during the interview and reviewed her children had gone to the USA. Parents long busy life with many facets of good and two sons still resided in Chandos Irish humour. Born on the boundary line twp during 1901 census.; all left by Manly P. Hall (Otonabee-Douro), she was the eldest WWI. daughter of Patrick Heffernan and An author based with the Los Angeles Elizabeth Slattery and is now the only Seeking burial whereabouts of Mary and Times inquired recently about living member of a family of nine Jean-B Hamel. Peterborough in 1901. It turned out that children. // She was married to Patrick he is preparing a biography of Manly P. Conroy at St Joseph’s church, Douro, by William D. Amell Hall, a noted California author. We were the late Rev Daniel O’Connell and raised 423 London St able to establish that he was born of 13 children. It was a hard life, she said, Peterborough ON K9H 3A2 Caesarean section in Nicholls Hospital, but her husband who died 12 years ago, Peterborough, 18 March 1901. His father, was a “sociable man” and together with Reilly William Hall (born 8 November 1872) their large family and numerous friends, was a dentist in Norwood and in there was no lack of mighty fine Seeks information regarding maternal Peterborough between 1899 and 1903. In gatherings. ancestry. James Reilly and wife Peterborough, he was a partner with “I worked on the farm like a man,” she Catherine Delmer were born in Ireland. Robert F. Morrow and then with Richard said, “and did everything but cradling.” // Their children were all born in Ontario: Nimmo. When the 1901 census was taken The reporter was a bit nonplussed at this Peter 1829, John 1831, Thomas 1835, in April 1901, William Hall was living coming from a woman who had raised 13 Ann 1837 and James 1839. His baptism alone in the Oriental Hotel. We also children until she explained that she recorded in parish register at St James learned that he was a Baptist born in rural The Heritage Gazette of the Trent Valley Volume 6, number 2, August 2001 8

referred to cutting grain in the pioneer three days until it was towed into Halifax. George St business and realty parcels no fashion. Mrs Conroy still likes to be // They stopped off at Peterborough but doubt involved larger amounts of money outside around the barns and her garden wnet on to Otonabee to farm. Mr Worboy in their change of ownership. and potted plants on her living room decided after a time that he would rather window sills, revealed her love of do something else than farm. // A The details of this Rishor property were growing things. blacksmith talked him into apprenticing as mentioned when the rumor of the sale was Four sons and a daughter are still a smithy. // “I was still not convinced that first reported. It embraces the Fiske and living. They are Mrs Timothy Garvey I would like blacksmithing but thought I Soden stores on Hunter St, with the Bank (Elizabeth), Mrs Loretta Allan and Mrs would at least give it a try. I have been at of Commerce, and on Water St it extends Thomas O’Connor (Pearl), all of it ever since,” Mr Worboy said. // He first all the way down to, but not inclusive of Peterborough, and Mrs Gregory Thomas worked in a small shop that turned out a the Goodfellow and Dougherty plumbing (Carrie) and a son James, both of wide range of general work, including and heating shop. Victoria. carriages, wheelbarrows, horseshoes and “Are not prices awful now?” she others. // He later went to work for the On the ground floor on that street are asked. “I used to sell eggs for seven Peter Hamilton Co. farm implement Hopkins’ Motor Sales, Reid’s Transfer at cents a dozen and butter for 15 cents a manufacturers, and stayed there 17 years. the rear; V.M. Eastwood, insurance office; pound. And made a bit of profit, too.” In 1921 he moved to the CGE Sackville Insurance and Realty Agencies; Mrs Conroy has a family living in part blacksmith shop. At that time the shop Archibald and Richmond, plumbers; of her home now and finds them good was booming and Mr Worboy and the 13 Dixon and Hurley, insurance; W.F. company. A birthday party was not other blacksmiths sweating at six forges Huycke, K.C., law office; McColl and planned for her but she said, regardless could not keep up with the work. When he Turner, accountants. of that, everyone was very kind to her. got home at night he was too tired to take The reporter left her waving at the open part in any sport or do anything else. // As Offices on the second floor include: doorway in the cold February sunshine the years went by the shop changed. // “If Carley and Standish, law offices; Empire with her throaty chuckles ringing in his someone told me 15 years ago that Life Insurance Co.; Pierce and Pierce, ears. He could not help but think that it blacksmithing was going to be almost a surveyors; Meredith Dental Laboratory; really took something to be bright, happy thing of the past, I would have taken little Dr B.R. Smyth, dentist; Dr C..H. Fulford, and busy at 91. Her Irish ancestry, no notice of such a statement. Today the dentist; Credit Associates; and the doubt. # burners, welders and bending machines of quarters of First Church of Christ the structural steel department do much of Scientist. // The Masonic Hall occupies Peterborough Examiner, 16 February 1951 the work we thought could only be the third floor. There are also six handled in a blacksmith shop. # apartments in the block.

II Peterborough Examiner, 14 February 1951 The main corner building was originally in the title of Senator George A. Cox, who III transferred it to the Toronto Savings Loan Blacksmithed for 50 Company. Originally, there may have years George Worboy Bank Block $150,000 been a hotel in the corner part of the Building Sale property, but that goes back into the retires 1880s, beyond present memory. Noel Rishor and Max Rishor, brothers, Nearly 50 years ago, George Worboy Apparently the transfer by Senator Cox became owners Monday [12 February picked up a blacksmith’s hammer to give was made in 1886. There has been no 1951] of the Bank of Commerce block at it a try. He laid down the hammer last change in the title since then. week. / For 30 of those years he has been the southwest corner of Hunter and Water streets. // Announcement of the purchase working with the CGE. Still young The Bank of Commerce was removed was verified several months ago, but the looking at 70, he expects to spend a busy from the southwest corner of Brock and details of the transfer were not completed retirement doing a number of carpentry George Streets to its present location. It is until Tuesday. It is understood that Rishor jobs for his wife in their home at 586 understood that the original vault there is brothers paid more than $150,000 for the Sherbrooke St. and gardening and now used by Victoria and Grey Trust Co. fishing in summer. property, which at present comprises 28 tenancies. There is no vacancy in the Born in Blaenaven, South Wales, Mr The new owners, Noel and Max Rishor, entire building of 96 foot frontage on Worboy came to Canada with his mother are young Peterborough men whose Hunter St and 192 feet on Water St. when he was seven years old to join his experience is the basis of their confidence father waiting for them. in the future of Peterborough and in their In its extent of space and ground footage On the way across the Atlantic the present investment. propellor was sheared off and dropped to this is the largest down town property turn over in present memory. Some of those the bottom. The ship sat anchored for Peterborough Examiner, 14 February 1951 The Heritage Gazette of the Trent Valley Volume 6, number 2, August 2001 9

“a light, clean, thoroughly ventilated, well had come because her mother had died in arranged Home suited to the wants of childbirth. Peterborough lacked a hospital, those for whom it is designed.” The rooms but stories such as this inspired the were neat and airy; there was a well, establishment of a small hospital at Moira cisterns, new fences and woodsheds; and, Hall, and later the Nicholls Hospital. The Old Peterborough the lot was levelled as much as was Protestant Home served as an infirmary in possible. A new verandah was installed on the absence of hospitals, and it seems that Protestant Home the east side of the building, ideal for Charlotte Nicholls, Peterborough’s Elwood H. Jones sitting on cool summer evenings, and for notable philanthropist, drew upon the watching trains at any time. Jackson experience of the Protestant Home as she Many in Peterborough know that the Creek, as it is now known, although became our pre-eminent advocate of a Peterborough Protestant Home was once industrialized both to the west and hospital. in the Old Stone Brewery, around the downtown, was in this stretch quite corner from the Hutchison House scenic. The Home even had a cow, which The Peterborough Protestant Home had Museum, another of the town’s rare added a pastoral touch. been operating for about twenty years 1830s stone structures. It was, from 1870 before its leaders asked John Carnegie, the to 1912, the second of three Victorians had many ideas about the poor, local MPP, whose name is attached to the Peterborough Protestant Homes. The and none were very flattering. Charity was street from the zoo to the Fairview first was a rambling old building at considered good for the giver, but not for Heritage Centre, if they were eligible for Bethune and Sherbrooke that the receiver. Still, most were willing to a government grant such as had been disappeared in the late nineteenth help those who truly were in difficulty for given to other charitable homes in the century. The third was the grand old reasons not of their own making. Widows province. In fact, it was performing an building renamed Anson House in 1931. and orphans always topped the list, and essential service not otherwise duplicated Recent research has uncovered much sympathy was extended to single-parent in this region, and government support about all three Protestant Homes. families, and to the aged poor. The was made retroactive to 1 October 1885. Protestant Home evolved into a home for With the grants came regular semi-annual Remarkably, the Peterborough Protestant the aged by the end of the century, but in visits from government inspectors, and Home never had a capital debt. Its its early years it always had children. their reports give glimpses of changing friends and managers had innovative expectations. On the first visit, 27 May approaches. For the first home, R.A. By the early 1880s, the Home had about 1886, the inspector found 14 people, all of Morrow, then a very young man, allowed fifteen residents at a time. They were whom by age or infirmity “belong to the the organization rent-free use for five young and old. Mrs Lowry, a blind class eligible for admission into years. For the second home, Sheriff woman who was one of the first residents institutions devoted to the care of the James Hall gave trustees a 99 year lease, in 1865 lived in the two Homes until she destitute.” He described the home as which his descendants converted to a died in 1884. There was an old man who “large and substantially built” and capable gift. For the third home, Charlotte was paralysed, and the town paid for him with good alterations of housing several Nicholls left a bequest for $10,000 that to have an attendant also at the Home. more people. It was well-managed, with was matched by the City of One lad spent fourteen years at the Home care and consideration for the inmates, Peterborough. Modern voluntary before leaving in 1883 having learned a and because the property had been given organizations could learn much from our trade, received wages and in later months to its trustees, its permanence was assured. innovative predecessors. paid for board; the staff and volunteers However, by May 1887, the inspector were proud of his accomplishments. There considered the building was “not suited For over forty years, the second were sad cases, as well. One old and for the purposes for which it is used.” Peterborough Protestant Home, which infirm couple with no family or relatives opened officially on Monday, 18 July left for the country, only to return a few Even so, he thought that the residents, 1870, was in a former factory building months later, homeless; farmers in that “Although very old and some of them perched on the side of a hill overlooking neighbourhood paid three months room quite helpless, appeared to be as happy the winding Jackson Creek, and for and board but the lady died within two and comfortable as it is possible to be in much of its life was adjacent to the weeks because of the exposure and such a state.” By age, we know that one Midland Railway line to Lindsay. At the starvation she had experienced in the was over 90, no fewer than five were time it was considered “neatly and previous few months. One young girl, between the ages of 80 and 90, and four comfortably fitted up with all the suffering from a hip disease, was ordered others were over 70; on the young side, necessary accommodations for the by her doctor to go to a hospital. One there were four girls. Two of the residents comfort of its inmates.” The Ladies young man died of consumption (later were almost completely bedridden, one Committee, composed of the volunteer known as tuberculosis) within a month of palsied and two partially paralysed. Some managers of this property, marvelled at entering the Home, and another man died people had very short stays, of perhaps a the “complete metamorphosis” which the day he arrived. A young infant, aged day or two, especially until the Home in changed the soap and candle factory into two months, died in the Home where she 1887 made it a policy not to receive The Heritage Gazette of the Trent Valley Volume 6, number 2, August 2001 10

emigrant servants. Often, the Home was 99 year lease had to be changed. Sheriff [Originally appeared in Prime Time, June a refuge for young people who needed Hall’s descendants, notably E.D.H. Hall 2001] jobs. The secretary said it was and Sandford Fleming’s wife, donated the “sheltering the lonely, helpless and property to the Peterborough Protestant homeless, [and providing] a quiet, Home. The new Ontario government, led comfortable haven to not a few weary by Sir James Whitney, Ontario’s first The Gypsies that visited ones.” Interestingly, in 1891, this home Conservative premier, stressed the need for the old and infirm had 16 people over for modern buildings serving the poor and Peterborough in 1909 60, and 16 below 30, including 7 under the aged. Nearly every county, including Elwood H. Jones 10. In the summer of 1894, apparently all Peterborough, built a House of Refuge. 17 residents were old. However, usually The government believed that people who [Editor’s note: The Peterborough at any given moment in the 1890s only got help, should be willing to work for Historical Society, 270 Brock Street, about two-thirds of the residents were their keep; anything else was an abuse of Peterborough Ontario K9H 2P9, recently over 60. Over time it became exclusively taxpayers. On the other hand, they wanted published Elwood Jones, The Gypsies that a home for the aged. local taxpayers to take more responsibility visited Peterborough in 1909, available for local social welfare, and services for through the Fairview Heritage Centre The Board considered ways to increase the poor, infirm and aged. There were Bookshop and elsewhere for $3.50. This the capacity of the Home. By raising the stricter fire regulations, new standards of is a summary of that work, but has left out roof of the building, perhaps at a cost of ventilation, sunlight and space much of the detail, footnotes and $600, it was possible to create separate requirements; for example, each resident photographs. This summary first appeared wards for men and for women. This was in such homes had to have 600 cubic feet in In the Kawarthas for 2001. While done by the spring of 1888, and a fence of space. As well, the government wanted descendants prefer to be known as Roma, was put across the front of the yard. The buildings to be clean, free of vermin, and the author prefers “gypsies” for this story building now had separate wings for the supplied with nurses. The government for several reasons. The spirit of travel is males and the females, each served by a added many conditions to its grants, and so easily conveyed across time. If one separate bathroom and a staircase. By the the old stone brewery, with low ceilings, wishes to understand how people viewed early 1890s, the new provincial lots of shade, and situated on low-lying each other, it is important to see what inspector, T.F. Chamberlain, thought land by a creek, could not meet the messages were conveyed in the choice of “the structural arrangements ...[still] are conditions; in 1910 and 1911 it lost its words. As the photographs of Fred L. really not fitted for the use that is made provincial grant. Roy have been so identified with this of it.” he ladies “appear to be quite group, and photographs of Roma are rare, taken up with the work being done here, In 1912, the incredibly attractive and well- it has been commonplace to refer to these and are looking forward with great designed third Peterborough Protestant travellers as the “Peterborough Gypsies.” interest to the procuring of new and Home opened on a hill-top property which No term captures precisely all the larger premises in the near future.” provided spectacular views of connotations and historians need all the Peterborough, the Otonabee and the help possible as they try to understand It was twenty years before a new surrounding countryside. The city people in the past. The author believes building was built, but changes acquired the former Hilliard farm because that the diversity of people who become continued to be made in this sixty-year- taxes had not been paid, and the city visible for a brief moment in history old building. Water came from a well became a formal partner in the next phase provides many opportunities for and a cistern, but by the early 1900s, it of the Home’s history. Clearly, ventilation reflection. He learned more than he was tied to the town water system. and fresh air were more important than thought possible about people who lived Lighting was by coal oil until electric convenience to the city centre. in Peterborough, the travellers and the lighting was added in 1897. Ventilating Coincidently, this smart, enduringly local officials. On both sides suspicion pipes were added to improve the air attractive, building was designed by gave way to caution and to tolerance and quality. Hot water heating was added in Sandford Smith, a descendent of Sheriff to respect.] 1895. There were repeated calls to Hall. The new building met all the replace the outdoor closets, or outhouses, provincial standards, and the government Newspaper reports circulated in June with modern water closets, or toilets, but grant was restored retroactively. 1909 that the gypsies had been a I cannot confirm that happened before disturbing presence. In Bobcaygeon it the Protestant Home moved to its And the old stone brewery, now four was reported that “The men are engaged splendid new building. attractive townhouses, retains its charm. It mostly in horse trading while the women can be seen best by walkers who take the tell fortunes and pick up all the loose The ladies managing the Protestant public steps from Stewart Street down to change they can find in their victims’ Home had dreamed of a new building Jackson’s creek or who view it from the pockets.” Reports from Omemee ever since 1891 when Charlotte Nicholls fine trailway that follows the old railway described them as a “band of thieving had left $10,000 for the purpose. Several line. vagrants, impertinent and lawless,” who things had to happen. The old building’s “plundered gardens, picked pockets and The Heritage Gazette of the Trent Valley Volume 6, number 2, August 2001 11

stole articles out of the stores.” Calls shreds should it be erected.” Peterborough’s fine gift store, the China were raised to punish them severely, Hall, filed a report in Toronto’s Saturday either by making them leave the country This particular gypsy band appears to Globe. or else by requiring them to earn an have numbered about 60 people, 27 honest living. horses, several dogs, and 13 or 15 caravan The gypsies were remanded for a week so The papers reported very waggons. There were 13 men: Peter that the provincial detectives could gather specific damages. William Brown and Sterio, Chris Sterio, Thomas Johns, information to send to immigration William Kennedy, both of Emily, each Andrew Johns, John Auctoris, J. Mendier, authorities. No one seemed concerned had a lamb stolen “to make broth for a Castrae John, Stephen Mitchell, George about holding people so long without gypsy pot.” The gypsies allegedly stole Mitchell, Nichol Mitchell, Stephen laying charges. However, there was fowl from Mrs Pogue, a colt, since George, Andrew George, and Peter considerable concern that tax dollars were recovered, from Richard Nurse, and Dawling. Rosie George, the gypsy queen, being used to cover the costs of detaining onions from William Brandon’s garden. was the group’s leader because her the gypsies. In addition to feeding the men Everett Mitchell’s wire fence was broken husband, Michael George, was in and horses, the county supplied constables down so the gypsies’ horses could Washington. Local officials treated to protect people’s gardens. It was “wander over his crops.” Several people Stephen George as the chief. E. Blake estimated that the cost to the county was reported losses of cash or purses, and Robertson, Assistant Superintendent of about $225, only half of which was Mrs S. Mahood lost a parcel of goods Immigration, visiting Peterborough after covered eventually by $125 of the $150 which was removed from her buggy. The the gypsies had left, said that the records fine. Warden R.N. Scott and the grand gypsies claimed that some other group had been checked and that, but for a jury felt the provincial authorities should had done these things, and indeed there couple of exceptions, all of the group were have helped with the expenses as the were reports of other bands in the area, naturalized Canadians and had to be given “course of action was made necessary in including one camped in south-end the “same consideration as is given to the interest of the safety of the general Peterborough. Canadian citizens.” That was unknown on public of the district.” In particular, Scott 21 June. placed the blame on provincial Detective When the group reached Peterborough Greer and felt that the county had been county, they encamped along the Sheila and Matt Salo, American abandoned by him. roadside at Fowler’s Corners where they ethnographers specializing in the Roma, were met by a delegation of officials have used immigration records to piece Meanwhile, at the end of the first day, the from Peterbor-ough. Warden R.N. Scott together an interesting itinerary. The women, children and animals had moved took the lead and was joined by High family, with Italian citizenship, travelled from the jail yard to a new park, then Constable Cochrane, Provincial to Brazil, where Rosie was born in 1893. referred to as the South End Park, but Detectives Miller and Greer, They were in Mexico City by 1896, in later known as King Edward Park. The Peterborough constables Newhall and New Orleans by 1901, in Honolulu by county was happy to be freed of the McGinty, Lindsay police chief Vincent 1903, and in Texas by August 1903. They responsibility for feeding and housing a and perhaps other county officials. As reached Canada by September 1906, and large part of the group. Queen Rosie early press reports stressed that the were in Ottawa in 1907. In 1908 they welcomed the more congenial gypsies were terrorizing the countryside, attempted to visit relatives in Chicago but, surroundings; here she could feel the police were surprised to find they had because they were considered somewhat in charge. Local officials only two rifles and no revolvers. “professional beggars,” were refused entry arranged for the move of the rest of the to the United States at Niagara Falls, band to the South End Park. The gypsy parade was led to the yard of Detroit, and probably Sault Ste Marie. the Peterborough jail, cleverly They were returning to Ottawa to learn if Instantly, the gypsy encampment became nicknamed Castle Nesbitt, after the 65 Michael George had arranged permission the top attraction in Peterborough. Public year old jail keeper, Henderson Nesbitt. for them to enter the United States. curiosity was insatiable. Hundreds of The men were charged, and put in the people came to the camp by carriage, by jail. The women and children and dogs While the general public was prohibited automobile and on foot. The gypsies were left in the jail yard. The horses were from the jail yard, Fred Roy was admitted found it hard to prepare supper with so placed in sheds there, and the women to take photographs. Reporters from the many peering in their pots, and pleaded and children slept in the waggons. town’s three papers - the Examiner, the with people to mind their own business Review and the Times - were also and give them a chance to have supper. Queen Rosie was very upset with the admitted. The diversity of the newspaper Some gypsy women threw rice and water arrangements. The gypsies claimed this coverage gives historians different at the intruders; gypsy children snatched was the first time any of them had been perspectives for recreating the events hair ribbons from visiting girls. “In spite jailed. Nor were they prepared to accept surrounding the gypsies. Indeed, virtually of the entreaties, however, the crowd makeshift arrangements. When officials every detail of their movements is covered remained, and each family hearth was suggested that they could tent in the jail in one newspaper or another. As well, Mrs surrounded by a circle of curious yard, they “threatened to slash the tent to Macfarlane Wilson, whose husband ran sightseers, who watched with interest the The Heritage Gazette of the Trent Valley Volume 6, number 2, August 2001 12

culinary arrangements of the gypsies.” behaviour. Several apparently went to a which will no doubt gather, and to prevent The Examiner reporter noted the gypsies local theatre hoping to see for free a any rowdyism.” A canopy was erected to had purchased bread, pork, water melon, movie about gypsies which had just closed shelter the 57th Regiment band which cucumbers, onions, bananas and the previous night. The “Italian fruit man” played festive music. Fireworks set the tomatoes, and the evening meal centred said that while he served one customer, tone, and the wedding crowd danced, on “the funny smelling stew.” Later in the gypsies took enough fruit “to start an sang, drank and feasted. “As the band the evening, Police Constable Newhall opposition fruit stand in the camp.” tore off ‘Rainbow’ several gypsy men and visited the camp and drove the crowd gypsy fairies minueted through some of back so the gypsies could get some sleep. The Roma men appeared in Magistrate the characteristic dances of Gypsyland and Edmison’s court room on 28 June, facing apparently enjoyed the festivities to the People watched the gypsies and peered two charges: “One for loitering on the full measure.” into their tents and caravans. Local roadside and obstructing the highway, women were astonished to see gypsy interfering with passengers, and the other Throughout the celebrations, nobody from women drinking beer. Many commented one was for allowing vehicles to stand on the press actually saw a wedding ritual. on the commitment to tobacco; the men the road in the Township of Smith for a The Times’ rather condescending and smoked cigars and boys as young as period of more than three hours.” They unreliable report of the festivities was the four smoked cigarettes. Most local were represented by F.D. Kerr and G.N. most detailed. Its reporter mistakenly people commented that the camp was Gordon; the prosecutor was Crown thought, “It was the celebration of the filthy, that children wore a single piece Attorney R.E. Wood. By coincidence, a marriage of their queen to the chief of the of clothing, that no one wore shoes, and Dr Pelkey, was in town from Ottawa other band which was camped near the that the women dressed in a flashy, representing the Pacific Medicine end of George Street.” He judged the gaudy and ugly style. Some commented Company. He was enlisted as their band music, dancing, and singing to be of on the primitive cooking arrangements, interpreter, even though he had no a “poor order” but thought everything had but allowing that the gypsies were sympathy for them. Pelkey, who had spent been done to ensure “every member a camping, they seemed both adept and 15 years in Mexico, said the gypsies were good time in a true Gypsy sense.” He astute. The Review reporter observed that of the lowest class in Mexico and spoke in believed, however, that traditionally “The revenue comes from horse-trading, an Italian patois; some spoke English “to gypsies could be very religious at barter of articles, fortune-telling and some extent”. One key witness was Robert gatherings between the tribes, quite in palmistry work, for all the world over Maitland, a grocer on the Fourth Line of contrast to “the roaming and seedy there are fools who believe that the Smith who refused to sell bread to the individuals who are causing such a future may be read and truthfully by a gypsies, because one gypsy, Castor John, sensation in Peterborough just now.” gypsy.” This same reporter asserted that apparently responded with indecent the people of Peterborough had been too language. The gypsies were fined $150, The Review reporter described the gypsy hospitable, and they should have plus the costs of the Crown Attorney and wedding as “a ceremony new to “invited” the gypsies to move elsewhere. their lawyers; the judge had added $25 to Peterborough and almost savage in its “The curious thing,” he added, “is that reimburse the people around Omemee. primitive color...” For him, the event was this people adopt their form of living, not He also ordered them to leave the county not a celebration, but an orgy of singing, from necessity, but choice.” as quickly as possible. They protested dancing and rejoicing. Even the wedding having to leave so hastily, and were fashions he considered to be grotesque, Some local citizens displayed boorish allowed to stay longer if it were at no cost gaudy and unalluring. Although he never behaviour. The Times reporter was to local tax payers. discovered who had performed the shocked, for example, by the obnoxious marriage ceremony, he was certain that J. behaviour of a “Mr. Fresh Alex,” a fat 50 According to Mrs Wilson, Magistrate Stoke was the groom, and that the bride of year old, who butted in on the gypsies on Edmison allowed the gypsies to stay in “14 summers” was a daughter of Chief the eve of the gypsy wedding. Happily, Peterborough three extra days so they Michael George. he was punched by a couple of gypsies, could celebrate their first wedding since and was seen heading downtown “fully coming to Canada four years earlier. The The Examiner reporter was fascinated that convinced that he was not as funny as he bride was reported to be Chief George’s so many had been to the wedding and yet used to be.” Earlier in the week a local 14 year old daughter, while the groom was no one knew what had happened. The th youth became too familiar with a gypsy initially identified as John Stoke, a reporter knew that the 57 Regiment Band woman. He was told off in vociferous wealthy 25 year old prairie rancher. Stoke had played pretty steadily, that the gypsies language and then “was given a severe was apparently a leader of what was continuously danced the fandango, and drubbing” which onlookers felt was identified in the local press as the that the supposed wedding couple were deserved. Several local men were Bulgarian gypsy band which had been more brightly dressed than the guests. He reportedly drunk and disorderly on the camped on the other side of George Street, asked different people when the wedding gypsy camp grounds. across from the park. Stoke rented the would occur and received different stories exhibition grounds for three days, and each time. One young girl, who looked a There were also complaints about Gypsy hired police “to keep back the crowd lot like Rosie, claimed to be the queen. The Heritage Gazette of the Trent Valley Volume 6, number 2, August 2001 13

After he pressed her to “say something Bulgarian gypsies were guilty of perjury, gypsy wedding local people were more which had the semblance of truth,” she and of stealing the young bride’s wedding sympathetic to the Roma who were seen said there had been no wedding, they just gifts of bangles and rings valued at $150. as fun-loving, exciting, exotic and strange. wanted some fun. An older woman said Queen Rosie told the local press that a there had been a wedding, solemnized in “younger man of her camp fell in love a church, not on the grounds. with a girl of the other tribe.” During the trials, the attorney for the Mexicans was Howard Pammett’s The matter of who actually got married able to establish the salient points. A remained an interesting question that was wedding, arranged by the parents, had Peterborough Irish : resolved to local satisfaction later in the taken place in Peterborough between serialization, part six summer. Three weeks after leaving Katrina Miguel, 12, and Spero Sterrio, 12, Peterborough, the Mexican Gypsies were the son of Christo Sterrio. The reporter Scott’s Plains and camped in Hull and the Bulgarian noted, “The consent of the pair, according Peterborough Gypsies, on Wellington Street, in to Bohemian rules, was not necessary, so Ottawa. A dispute arose between the two long as the parents were agreed as to the [The Trent Valley Archives is pleased to camps and the Bulgarians claimed that convenience, financial and otherwise, of reprint Howard Pammett’s 1933 Queen’s no wedding had taken place. A series of the match.” Evidently, the tribal heads thesis. The work remains the most solid escapades and charges and counter- agreed that Queen Rosie should pay a study, and although much has happened charges followed, largely resolved in the $1,000 dowry. Evidence produced at the in the intervening 70 years, the rich courts of Hull and Ottawa. The Mexican perjury trial included a big brass tray, archival texture of the work commands men were reportedly engaged in the upon which the Mexican gypsies had respect. The Robinson papers are now in buying and selling of horses, and the placed $1,000 before the wedding. The the Peterborough Centennial Museum Mexican women had “not been telling day after the wedding, also following and Archives. There has been fortunes or doing anything that would custom, the leaders drank wine from a considerable pertinent work on the study bring them into the hands of the police.” wine bottle that at the trial was covered of immigration, settlement, family life, The Crown Attorney estimated their with a silken cloth, and adorned with a and Peterborough. We know consider- wealth at $30,000 and considered them string of gold coins. ably more about many of the families that well-off financially. While in the Ottawa are usually referred to as the Peter area, they travelled in cars and taxis The Mexican gypsies only sojourned in Robinson settlers. The Trent Valley owned by N. Charbonneau. Because they Peterborough from 21 June until 2 July Archives has sought ways to celebrate the had papers showing they were 1909. However, the stories of that ten-day descendants of this famed migration. TVA Canadians, their lawyer claimed that they stay remained part of the local lore for is the home to Howard Pammett’s could not be treated as vagrants. The long after. Still, given my initial excellent historical library, and also to Bulgarians, for their part, made assumption that there were limits on what some of his private papers. copperware which they sold to leading could learned about outsiders who took In this sixth excerpt, Howard Pammett hotels such as the Russell House and the pride in keeping secrets from others, we discusses the history of Peterborough Windsor, and to the House of Commons. learned more than seemed possible about before the arrival of the Robinson settlers. the Mexican gypsies. This is a continuation of the discussion of The Bulgarians claimed that the the wider district. Here, he is concerned Mexicans had abducted Katrina Alexis Happily, the gypsies won supporters in with the site that became Peterborough. (also known as Katrina Miguel). In their Peterborough, especially among local We then add chapter six which is a version, she had been hired out to authorities, but the beginnings were discussion of the difficulties in getting the Stephen George until she had been ominous. They were the object of Irish emigrants from Kingston to Scott’s allegedly abused. She returned to her extraordinary prejudice as well as Plains. Pammett is critical of Robinson’s home, and from there was kidnapped by curiosity. They were inconvenienced leadership, but identifies with the hard- the Mexicans. The Mexicans claimed intolerably, and yet no one seemed to working settlers. that Katrina Alexis was the adopted child care. While Fred Roy’s photos allow us Again, we are thankful to Alice of Miguel Alexis and his wife; her direct access to the Peterborough gypsies Mackenzie who has typed the entire natural father was a poor man who lived of 1909, we learn more about Peter- manuscript, and whose efforts have made in Russia. borough people for whom we have no it possible to share Pammett’s thesis with photographs. Against the changing a wider audience. Queen Rosie returned to Peterborough to background in those short weeks we The Trent Valley Archives plans to recruit three police officers, Constables witnessed a great variety of local publish a fine edition of Pammett’s work George Mitchell, Thomas Williams and responses. People were always curious and it is hoped that making parts of it Darcy Dunlop, as witnesses. She was and suspicious about others who traveled available to our readers in this way will prepared to play their travel and in bands. Mostly, their distrust turned to spark interest in the bigger project and expenses, and to reimburse them for two respect for the colourful visitors who perhaps bring useful comments from dollars a day. She charged that the brightened that distant summer. After, the researchers and friends. The numbers in The Heritage Gazette of the Trent Valley Volume 6, number 2, August 2001 14

parentheses will direct the impatient to concession and part of lot 15 in the 12th discussing possible locations for pond and the pertinent page of the thesis. ] concession of the township of dam and flume and mill on the riverbank. Monaghan... [details of plot] ...Reserving On the same evening the party went down for a road one chain in width to the the river, across Rice Lake, and back landing with space for each street in the overland to Smith's Creek, well satisfied future town which may lead toward the with their labour.4 Chapter Five (Part 2) river: with free access to the beach by all Early in 1820, Adam Scott and his son vessels, boats and persons not interfering came up again, to build a mill on the site Early Settlement with the present mill and dwelling house. of Peterborough, which they were to run North of Rice Lake Thos. Ridout, Surveyor-General."2 for Fothergill. Adam Scott had been born On 13 February 1823, he received the in Edinburgh in 1796, and in 1812 he Town of Peterborough patent for 10 acres, "mill site on town came out to Delaware County in New In 1818 Samuel Wilmot, surveyor, reservation, part of lots 14 and 15 conc. York State, where he became a millwright. wrote to the Surveyor-General, for 13 and part of lot 15, concession In 1818 he came to Smith's Creek and warding a rough map of the township of 12...surrendered May 20th, 1829."3 built a sawmill there, but left it in 1820 to Monaghan: Apparently Government broke the lease start anew in the backwoods. They 27th March,1818, Sir: I take the monopoly when it was seen that a town decided against trying to control the liberty of recommending the lots was growing around the mill at the head rapids of the Otonabee, and instead {149} 14,15,16 in the 13th concession of of navigation, and that no amount of dammed up the waters of the creek which Monaghan for a government reserve, influence could hold such a valuable town still traverses the town, conveying the lying at the head of navigable waters plot from settlement. water to their mill on the bank of the of the large river at the Carrying In May 1819, a party of men came up Otonabee by a short flume.5 The aptness Place. It is a beautiful high site for a the Otonabee in a rowboat {148} from of their choice of location is shown by the village, and a good situation at the Rice Lake, having crossed over from fact that as late as 1867 there was a large head of navigable water for a Smith's Creek: Adam Scott, Charles frame mill in operation on the same site, waterworks..."1 Fothergill, Thomas Ward, John Farrelly, at the corner of King and Water streets,6 In 1817 he had been ordered to survey John Edmison, and Barnabas Fletcher. and even yet there is a flour-mill there, the township of Monaghan for Fothergill and Ward were merchant though not run now by water. Their flume Buchanan's Irish from New York, and speculators, Farrelly was a surveyor, Scott led from the millpond formed by damming had sent in a partial map of the township was a miller, Bletcher was a farmer, and the creek, to their mill on the steep bank on which he had named the North (now Edmison was an emigrant intending to of the river at the foot of the present King Otonabee) River, which he thought settle in Smith township. They were Stree. Scott first built a rough log shanty flowed west through the township of mostly from Smith's Creek, and were 18 by 20 feet covered with black ash bark, Manvers. He was to complete his survey looking for good lands and mill sites close to accommodate his family until they in the winter of 1818, and to explore the to the recent settlers in Smith and could build the mill. This small crude mill river which he described. The above Otonabee; Fothergill was bringing up was of rough boards and about 24 by 18 letter resulted. Thus the town plot was Scott to look over his mill site lease at the feet, containing a small upright saw of the reserved, with its mill site, although head of navigation on the Otonabee. They "up and down" variety, and a poor run of nobody had any vision of the city to came across Little Lake landing above very common millstones quarried nearby come. Spaulding's Bay, and prepared to spend for grinding grain. An undershot Charles Fothergill of York and the night beside the river at the point millwheel in the flume provided the Smith's Creek [Port Hope], a shrewd which later became the Steamboat power, but as the creek was often dry and merchant and miller, saw the advantages Landing. Scott by discharging his gun usually nearly so, the mill was often of the mill site in a growing settlement, lighted a fire; after supper they lay down inactive; when it did run, it had little and on 11th Feb.1819 obtained a 99 year around the fire under the trees for the power to saw lumber of any thickness or lease on the site Lease to Charles night. Next morning Edmison and Ward to saw it well, and the grain ground was Fothergill... all that parcel of land in the went six miles overland along the very poorly done. Scott then erected a township of Monaghan in county of Communication Road (the old Indian frame house, a low square cottage-roofed Northumberland in District of Newcastle portage trail) to Chemong Lake, where structure made with rough lumber from -- being the mill seat situate on part of a Ward had acquired a large grant on the the mill. Later, when the emigrants certain plot of ground reserved for the site of the village of Bridgenorth, which arrived, he began a primitive distillery in site of a town in the township of he wished to explore. They had their his house, to make a living when his Monaghan, together with 10 acres of meals with some of the "colony" settlers inefficient mill did not pay land adjacent thereto, for the term of 99 just recently located along the A daughter Jeannette was born in years at the yearly rent of 5 shillings to Communication Road. Edmison stayed in 1820, the first white child in the place. be paid annually to the Receiver-General Smith to take up his lot, but Ward Scott himself was six feet four inches tall, which said parcel of land is composed of rejoined the others on the bank of the weighing 260 pounds and immensely parts of lots 14 and 15 in 13th Otonabee, where he found them strong. The late Thomas Choate, himself The Heritage Gazette of the Trent Valley Volume 6, number 2, August 2001 15

the first settler in the village of Warsaw, the corner of George and King Streets {152} a few beech and maple. Between recounted a story which proved the toward the end of the century. the creek and the Otonabee River was a strength of that pioneer miller who Scott did not prosper with his mill, flat plain with a few stunted pine and oak started Peterborough. In March 1821, because it was very inefficient and trees, and small bushes; its open spaces Thomas was a boy of 11 years, brought undependable. Many settlers continued to bore traces of the occasional campfires of by his father, Jacob Choate, a farmer carry their {151} grain to Smith's Creek, Indians and white hunters from the living near Smith's Creek, to visit some where they could exchange part of it for lakefront. The site, as we have noticed, English settler friends near Chemong supplies, or to the mill on Galloway's was ideal for a city, and commented upon Lake in Smith, and to bring them some Creek in Cavan, or to Keeler's mill in as such by the surveyors and early settlers. needed supplies. They came up through Asphodel. But Scott's Plains became a The soil in general was dry and gravelly, the bush on a blazed but {150}uncut centre for trade and a public asset for and the terrace was twenty feet above the snowroad on a sleigh, as there was ten Smith, Douro, Emily, North Monaghan, river, with a fine creek running from the inches of snow on the ground. Ten miles and other more northerly townships. There northwest through the woods to enter the north of Smith's Creek they met Adam is a story that Scott was offered a grant of river near the southern end of the plain, Scott trudging along toward that village land around his mill, but refused it, below Scott's mill. Wild animals came with the 250-pound crankshaft of iron thinking the land too low and swampy for boldly to the river to drink, and bears from his mill, which had been somehow much use; but in view of Fothergill's lease especially were numerous and broken, taking it to have it repaired in and patent, and of Scott's lack of troublesome, attacking farm animals close the foundry there. He rested the burden influence, we may brand the tale as to the cabins. The old Indian portage trail on a corner of the sleigh and chatted with untrue. His wife died in 1825 of fever to Chemong Lake was beginning to lose Mr. Choate, a friend of former days, for brought up from Kingston by the Irish its primeval appearance, as the settlers a few moments, and then hoisted his emigrants, and in 1827 he gave up his along the Communication Road hewed enormous burden on his shoulder again position as miller for Fothergill, out their road allowances. It began at the and trudged away to finish his 30-mile discouraged, and went to farm near Port foot of the present Simcoe Street on the journey through the forest, his woolen Hope, later moving in 1829 to Cavan, riverbank, where the bank shelved down, stockings hanging down over his boots, where he was a millwright again; he died went north-west to leave the city at the far below his corduoroy breeches. The in February 1838. There is another story western end of Park Hill Road(Smith Choates called at Scott's house on their that Robinson asked him to accept the Street), and continued northwest through way back from Smith township, and Immigration Agency at Peterborough in Smith township to the lake, 6 miles, found his wife had not even a candle in 1827, but that he declined and McDonell cutting off the long water journey through the house, so poor were they. They met was appointed; but with any knowledge of the lower Kawarthas. The courthouse hill Scott on his way home with the mended Robinson and patronage conditions of the had a fine growth of tall oaks, a few of crankshaft(let us hope upon the OTHER time, this story may be seen as absolutely which still remain; the margins of the river shoulder!) in triumph after his long impossible, when influential officeseekers down to Simcoe Street had also some of journey, a brave worthy pioneer who were crowding around Robinson like these tall oaks. The town site was flat triumphed over difficulties ten times as parasitical flies where-ever he went at the toward the south, and hilly to the north, great as any of the complaining but time. This pioneer miller, who founded but since then most of the hills and prospering(through patronage) Rubidges the city and showed a fine example of depressions have been levelled up and Stewarts and Traills, etc.7. fortitude and endurance among very great gradually. Wild flowers, huckleberry and Before the dam was constructed hardships, is now entirely forgotten, and other bushes, and stunted trees, grew in below Little Lake some decades later, the not even a memorial or a street retains his profusion on the plains, and especially on river above the lake was in spring a name, while streets are named after his the courthouse hill. There were some raging torrent, and in summer and quite unimportant successors who took the willows along the river, and the margins autumn quite shallow, and Scott often "public eye" by purse and power in the of the creek were also low and swampy crossed it on stilts to reach his oxen, Peterborough of 1825-1875, such as until they were filled up later when pastured on the eastern plain, now the McDonell, Stewart, Reid, Burnham, and buildings were erected along its course. At suburb of Ashburnham, at the same time Rubidge; these were builders of super- the southeast corner of the present Hunter that the Stewarts were complaining that structures perhaps, but not founders. and George Streets(where the Bank of it was impossible to cross the river (after We may picture Scott's Plains in the Toronto now stands), there was a low wet 1823). Scott's house was situated on the summer of 1825, before it was awakened spot which formed a stagnant pool in wet west side of Water Street, about midway to life by the tide of incoming Irish seasons.{153} between Charlotte and King Streets emigrants. None had then any vision of its Mrs. Stewart was enthusiastic over the (now); it was demolished in later years future, beyond hoping that they might get wild beauty of this plain when she saw it when factories were built through that a good mill, a bridge, and perhaps a store first in 1823, and Mrs. Traill found the section. Parts of the flume of the old and a tavern there. The ground west of the scene only a little changed in 1832: Scott mill were dug up when the creek to Rubidge Street and north to I must give you some account of foundations of the Grand Opera House McDonnel Street (in the present city) was Peterborough, which in situation is and Turner's factory were being built at densely covered with pine trees, with superior to any I have yet seen in the The Heritage Gazette of the Trent Valley Volume 6, number 2, August 2001 16

Upper Province....It is situated on a Otonabee, preferring future unearned tract....10 fine elevated palin, just above the profits to present settlement. Mrs. Traill The survey was completed the same small lake where the river is divided noted in 1832:"This is called autumn, doubtless with the aid of Irish by two low wooded islets...These Peterborough East, and is in the hands of emigrant chainmen. The original plains form a beautiful natural park, two or three individuals of large capital, boundaries of the town were named: finely diversified with hill and dale from whom the townlots are purchased..."9 Smith Street [now Park Hill Road] on the covered with a lovely greensward, Again Governmental favouritism and north, Townsend Street on the south, Park enamelled with a variety of the most corruption worked to the harmful disad- Street on the west, and the river on the exquisite flowers, and with groups of vantage {154} of industrious actual east. The "Scotch village" extended east to feathery pines, balsams, oaks, settlement and development. Concession Street [now Armour Road], poplars, and silver birches. The This is the proper place to mention the and the town later spread west to views from these plains are survey of the townplot of Peterbor-ough, Monaghan Road. Of course the city has delightful, whichever way you turn although it was not surveyed until, and now greatly outgrown all those century- your eyes...The plains descend with because, the emigrants had arrived in the old limits. Birdsall named five streets after a steep declivity toward the river, autumn of 1825. Richard Birdsall his family, Elizabeth, Sophia, Maria, which rushes with considerable surveyed the Government Reserve in Charlotte and Birdsall Streets. Britain was impetuosity. Fancy a long narrow North Monaghan by an order from honoured by King, Queen, George and valley separating the east and west Thomas Ridout, Surveyor-General, dated Hunter Streets. The three parts of the portions of the town into two distinct 18 October 1825: British Isles were remembered in London, villages. The Otonabee bank (east) It being desirable that a survey be Dublin and Edinburgh Streets. Colonial rises to a loftier elevation than the made of the town plot in Monaghan officers were remembered in Brock, Monaghan(west) side, and with the least possible delay, I Hunter, Murray, Dalhousie, {155} commands an extensive view over herewith transmit to you a diagram Alymer, Simcoe and Gilmour Streets; the intervening valley... There are plan showing the manner in which the Wolfe Street and Lundy's Land are also many beautiful walks toward the same is to be laid out. Should you be self-evident. Local magnates naturally Smithtown hills, and along the bank willing to execute the survey thereof took most of the street-names for that overlooks the river. The summit at the rate of 4 1/2 acres for every 100 themselves: Stewart Street, McDonnell of this ridge is sterile, and is thickly acres surveyed, to be taken by ballot Street, Reid Street, Rubidge Street, set with loose blocks of red and grey of such town lots as remain after the Burnham Street, Rogers Street, Mark granite, interspersed with large usual reserves for public purposes, Street (for Mark Burnham), Boswell masses of limestone scattered in and excepting the tract within the said Street, Crawford Street, Benson Street, every direction; they are mostly town plott, now under lease, copy of Harvey Street, Walton Street, Bethune smooth and rounded, as if by the which is herewith sent you; observing Street, Weller Street, etc.etc11. Robinson action of water....The oaks that grow that with regard to the percentage it is Street, a very short street in Ashburnham, on this high bank are rather larger equal to the highest that has been is a memory of one founder. The records and more flourishing than those in given by Government to any reveal that on 3 April 1826, Birdsall for the valleys and more fertile parts...8 contractor for surveys... The lines his work received patents for 18 lots in the About 1800 the block of land which must be sufficiently opened, so that town as his 4 1/2 % of the surveyed town constitutes the present suburb of they may be traced with certainty, plot. Water Street, supposed to be laid Ashburn-ham, long a separate village, on laying down on your plan and also along the riverbank, was actually back the east or Otonabee bank of the river, inserting in your field-notes every- from it for most of its length, but was the was by tradition given to an English thing worthy of remark and also main thoroughfare of the town in the early military officer by Government. This noticing on your plan such places as years, and all the first buildings were officer tired of the wilderness and is said appear to you most suitable for public erected upon it as the main street. to have sold it all to Zaccheus Burnham purposes, such as church, parsonage, Thus we see in 1825 the district north of Cobourg about 1804 for $20 and a burial ground, court-house, etc. The of the Rice Lake and the town plot of the horse to ride to more civilized parts. streets passing west from the river city of Peterborough; the district was very Burnham sold the land only for high Otonabee through the tract under much in need of the 2000 Irish emigrants prices, and to him must go the blame for lease are excepted therein, and are to with their reviving influence. While the the small growth of Ashburnham as be opened to the river, but not to be number settled in the district must have compared with the main part of the town. laid out into lots within the limits of been much over the 500 recorded by In the early days the "Scotch village" of that tract; and although the diagram Rubidge in 1838-48, since the Land Board Ashburnham was thought to be the part does not show any allowance for a alone made 610 locations in those which would grow much faster in the street on the bank of the river, yet you townships (not counting those cancelled future than Peterbor-ough, and this failed will in the survey leave one chain in or given up) and Government made many mostly because of the speculative policy width back from the bank of said river more, between 1818 and 1825, yet the which seized and held large blocks of along the whole front of the town, district was languishing from lack of land in the northwest corner of excepting only in front of the leased markets, roads, mills, and the trade and The Heritage Gazette of the Trent Valley Volume 6, number 2, August 2001 17

capital which make a settlement flourish August, instead of late October and heard of in London; it is doubtful that he and go with increasing settlement as a November, and have been completely had ever been in the district. The natural corollary. Rubidge, Reid and settled in before winter descended. Otonabee-Trent was only river system in Stewart were all in 1825 thinking of When Robinson reached Niagara, the district to "explore." There was only giving up the struggle which they found Maitland informed him that he had one "avenue of access" and it was used by tiring for their gentle hands, and if appointed Colonel Burke as deputy- all previous travellers; that was the route conditions were bad for them with their superintendent of the emigrants, and that overland from Cobourg to Rice Lake, and large resources, they must have been Doctor Reade had been left at Prescott to thence across the lake and up the almost unbearable for the backbone of forward the late arrivals.14 Otonabee by boat. The lower Trent River, settlement, the ordinary pioneers on 50 Having delivered Lord Bathurst's below Rice Lake, had too many rapids to to 200 acres, whose hardships we have dispatches to His Excellency Sir be navigable. The overland route from touched upon only incidentally; they Peregrine Maitland and received the Smith's Creek (Port Hope) overland was usually suffered and triumphed in warmest assurances of support in almost impassable except on snow roads silence, so that we have little record of forwarding the settlement of the in winter. Anyone on the lakefront could them. emigrants, as had indeed been have told Robinson all this without his six strongly manifested in the measure days of "exploration" for avenues and which had already been adopted by depots. Robinson, in his letter of 15 His Excellency in setting apart for March 1826 to Horton, claimed credit for Chapter Six their reception the townships in rear having "originally selected the most of the Rice Lake, which consist of as eligible situation" for his emigrants;17 Moving the Emigrants to fine land as any in the province...15 however, his later official Report gave the Scott's Plains. On 30 July, he went to York to secure credit to Maitland.18 Robinson, in the {157}from the Surveyor-General all school of Strachan and the Family We must pause here to consider available information concerning the Compact, had well learned the art of where Peter Robinson had been loitering townships where the Irish were to be drawing up a convincing, yet unreliable, since the middle of May. He left Cork on located. He then proceeded to Cobourg by Report; it was vague and had innumerable 24 May when the John Barry was about waggon, arriving there on 3 August, and inaccuracies and perversions.{158} to sail, arrived in London on the 27th "to hired Mr Alexander McDonell, the Mrs. Stewart, 13 August 1825, noted: make the necessary pecuniary nephew of Bishop McDonell, as guide and Last week we had a visit from Mr. arrangements"12, got to Liverpool on 8 assistant. Robinson, who has been employed by June, and sailed on the Panther on the 9th Although I felt impatient to proceed to Government to bring over emigrants. for New York. "On my arrival at New Kingston to see the settlers yet on He has just arrived with 2000, some York after a voyage of 50 days, I found consideration I thought I should of whom he is to place in this that they had all landed their passengers forward my object more by viewing township. They are expected to arrive and about half the number had arrived at the lands on which they were to be at Scott's Mills tonight, and they are Kingston, where they were in tents..."13 located, ascertaining the means of to encamp on the Plains until he can By his own reckoning, he arrived at New communication and the proper place place them on their portions of land. York on 29 July, therefore, yet in his for the depot of stores and Only the heads of families, 350 in official report he stated that he arrived at provisions... Having employed Mr. number, are to come up at present. 19 Niagara overland on 28 July, truly a McDonell an intelligent and This causes a great sensation. swift flight! The reason for the long respectable young man [as] well The first emigrants, only a small group, journey by New York was either that he acquainted with the country as my were not brought up to the depot for two could find no ship going to Quebec, or guide, I explored the different rivers weeks, but Robinson was probably more probably that he preferred the and avenues of access to the lands making wild promises wherever he went. greater luxury and higher society of the allotted for the emigrants and was He spent six days “in exploring the ships going to New York. Robinson highly gratified in discovering greater woods” and satisfying himself as to the must be severely censured for this delay, facilities of communication that I had quality and situation of the land. Without which prejudiced the whole success of anticipated and that the tract was in initiating the least preparation for the his expedition. He should at least have every respect highly eligible. I found arrival of the emigrants at the selected arrived with his emigrants, and led them that we could get our provisions and depot at Scott's Plains, Robinson finally himself all the way. Better still, he stores forwarded half the way by went to Kingston, arriving there on 10 should have come in advance and made water and that there was a central August to rescue the long-suffering Irish efficient preparations for their situation at the head of the Otonabee emigrants. conveyance to, and reception at, Quebec, River highly convenient for a As the emigrants had reached 16 Montreal, Prescott, Kingston, Cobourg, depot... Kingston between 2 and 30 July, most had Scott's Plains, and the townships to be Most of this is highly-coloured rhetoric. been there a month before Robinson settled. Then, they would have been Lieutenant Alexander McDonell of arrived. Robinson claimed "Everything settled upon their lands before the end of Glengarry, his "guide", we have already possible had been done for their benefit The Heritage Gazette of the Trent Valley Volume 6, number 2, August 2001 18

by H. E. Sir P. Maitland..."20 However, Roman Catholic priests, and the Sisters of child on 24 August; of Tobias Swytzer's Maitland had done nothing except to Mercy from the Kingston convent, who family, one child on 24 August; of Patrick appoint Colonel Burke, who apparently nursed the sick and consoled the bereaved Lynch's family, one woman on 24 August; did very little for the emigrants. Except and dying. of William Sullivan's family, one man on to note his appointment, there is not one Robinson attempted to excuse the 31 August; of Cornelius Flynn's family word about him in all the Reports and long delay in Kingston, asserting one child on 3 September; and, of James correspondence about the expedition. repeatedly that "the settlers were much Handlan's family, one child on 14 There was no preparation and little care better off encamped in the open country September.28 Several who went from for the emigrants at Kingston. during the greatest heat of the weather, Kingston to Lower Canada will be Unfortunately, during the very hot and where they were not only less liable to mentioned later. It is noteworthy that none sultry season it was often 100° in the contract disease, but were also exempt deserted from Kingston in spite of the shade. Mosquitoes were very bothersome from being tormented by the flies which hardships and sickness and the many because of the high water in the back- swarm in the woods during the summer rumours to that effect. The charges that 23 country and the rainy season. Stupidly, months." "They were quite well, or Bastable tried to get them to desert will be the emigrant camp was located upon the indeed better at Kingston, than they would discussed later. 24 marshy flats at the mouth of the Rideau have been in the woods at that season." On 11 August, Robinson accompanied river. The inevitable result was an "The prevailing sickness, the ague and 500 emigrants on a steamer to Cobourg, a epidemic of ague, dysentery and malaria, fever, was at that time as prevalent among distance of 92 miles, where they landed 25 29 which swept rapidly through the the old settlers as ourselves." "I found the next day. Cobourg , the point of settlement of thin-blooded unhardened them as comfortable as could reasonably entry to the back country, in 1824 had Irish. Rumours flew fast over the be expected, some of them suffering from about 100 inhabitants. It was the principal provinces, and went to England and the ague and fever, owing to the intense town of the District of Newcastle, and the Ireland on every ship. Colonel Talbot heat of the weather, though not in a seat of the Land Board. Kingston, where informed John Beverley Robinson at greater proportion than the inhabitants of the Irish had been tented but not 26 Niagara, in the presence of Maitland, the province generally." "the weather contented for a month, had a population that 30 Irish were dying every day. continuing excessively hot, I did fear we of almost 5000, and {161}was considered 27 Another wrote to Horton maliciously that should have lost more than we have." a rival of York, the largest city in Upper 30 most of the emigrants would be dead There is a slight amount of truth and much Canada. The steamer made weekly soon.21 John B. Robinson hastened to prevarication in these excuses. Most new voyages to bring up the other emigrants, deny these {159} rumours "that whole settlers, for a year or two, had fever and and by the middle of September, all were families were swept away by sickness." ague in some slight degree, due to changes in Cobourg. When Robinson arrived in He maintained that "the mortality, on the in climate, water, food, and other Cobourg on 12 August with the first contrary, was surprisingly small"; there conditions. Robinson knew full well from contingent, he discovered, for the first had been, he said, 300 cases of fever and his life in Upper Canada that in that time, that heavy rains had made the trail 33 deaths before Peter's arrival at season the old settlers were little affected from Cobourg to Rice Lake almost Kingston. In one day there were 11 by the ague and fever. Rather than loafing impassable; his first task was to repair this funerals at Kingston. As Doctor Reade on the swamps of the Rideau mouth, it road so that wagons could carry the was at Prescott until the end of July, would have been better for the emigrants baggage and provisions to Rice Lake: there was no doctor with the 1900 to spend the hot weather {160}in the In this work I received every emigrants at all. Local doctors were woods working on their own lands. The assistance from the magistrates of the called in occasionally, as the following sooner they were on their lots and District, who gave me £50 from the bill indicates: 22 working at clearing away the trees, the District funds, and this sum together sooner they would recover from the with the labour of our people enabled To the Honble. Peter Robinson, epidemic, which was caused as much by me to improve the road in 10 days so Cobourg. Kingston, 22 Jan. 1826 Robinson's mistakes regarding food, much that our provisions and baggage To strict attendance upon the sick Irish idleness and the location at Kingston, as could be sent across with ease; and 3 emigrants from 26 July to 19Aug. 1825 by the low vitality, newness to the large boats were transported on province, and the intense heat and wetness at 10s. per diem...... £12,0. wheels from Lake Ontario to the Rice of the season. No excuses can disguise 31 To attendance and medicine to Mrs. Lake. Robinson's incapacity as a superintendent Dr Reade stayed with the sick at Cobourg. Buckley, 19th-30th Aug...... ,5s. of emigration. To attending all night and delivering Colonel Burke moved emigrants weekly Two emigrants settled in Kingston: from Kingston. When all ha reached Mrs. Connel with medicine John Daly, Junior, and one other man. Of subsequently...... 1,0. Cobourg he then took charge there. Burke the 33deaths there it was noted that the was sick and came with the other sick Dr. to W. Scott, Kingston. £14,5s. following died by 24 September, when all from Cobourg to Scott's Plains. The first Incidentally, this bill seems never to had left Kingston: of Timothy Ryan's 500, or those of them who were healthy, have been paid. Much more willing and family one man and one woman, the latter walked the 12 miles to Rice Lake, while considerate aid was given freely by the on 26 July; of William Flynn's family, one their baggage was taken by ox-carts, to The Heritage Gazette of the Trent Valley Volume 6, number 2, August 2001 19

Sully, the end of the first stage of the settlers (Irish) not one of these men Cobourg, which was of sufficient inland journey. Sully, later renamed escaped the ague and fever, and two length to enable us to estimate their Harwood, on the southeast shore of the died.”34 The journey from Sully to Scott's general character, and to warrant an lake, consisted of a tavern and a couple Plains could be made in one day with hard expectation of their becoming a of squalid houses in 1825. The trail from rowing, but there was an island about five valuable acquisition to the province.36 Cobourg to Sully was over a succession miles below the town which for However, Thomas Stark was of high hills, one 700 feet high, and deep generations was called "Robinson's dismissed at Cobourg; he was readmitted ravines, more picturesque than easy to Island", where some parties of emigrants at the depot. On 24 October, Patrick walk. The well-cultivated farms and are said to have spent their first night Lewis , with his wife and two children, open fields and flourishing orchards north of Rice Lake en route to the depot. deserted to the United States in a around Cobourg became fewer and fewer Their landing-place at Scott's Plains, also schooner. James Fitzgibbon, in a letter as they approached Rice Lake, where used by the Scott party five years earlier, written later, mentions it with several clearings became fewer and the road was just above Spaulding Bay, at the foot misstatements: consequently worse. of the present Wolfe Street; the spot was ...While at Kingston they were Robinson now discovered that the later made into a steamboat pier, and just tampered with and many of them Otonabee was too shallow at that season to the north of it was a flat grassy area recommended to go to the United to float his three boats, when loaded, known as the "Steamboat Green", the States, but not one did so; that while over the shoals and so he spent another 8 scene of much of the life and activity of waiting at Cobourg until days at Sully constructing a scow 60 feet the early town.35 Although the dates in accommodations were provided for long and 8 feet wide, which "carrying an the Report are very vague, this first party them north of Rice Lake, two families immense burden could be more easily of emigrants must have reached the depot embarked in a schooner and went to worked up the stream than one of half on or shortly after 1 September 1825. The the United States, and one family the size carrying comparatively last of about 60 daily scow loads reached returned to Kingston. It was known nothing..."32 This scow was flat- Scott’s Plains about the end of October. that those who went to the United bottomed and drew only a few inches of {163} States had relatives there. These 3 water when fully loaded; it was propelled As mentioned, Colonel Burke was in families left Cobourg in September...37 by eight or ten {162}rowers, who had charge at Cobourg, forwarding groups of Except for the Lewis family, however, no poles to push it over the shoals. It could emigrants from Kingston and on to Sully, one deserted at Cobourg. Several returned carry 30 persons and their baggage, and while Doctor Reade took care of the sick to Lower Canada. James Gould, wife and these could aid in towing it up the rapids at Cobourg. The emigrants settled in tents 4 children, returned to Montreal, as did and over the shallows of the 24 miles of on the beach at Cobourg until it was their Grace Oakley, who went back to Montreal Otonabee river to the depot at Scott's turn came to go inland. Their conduct to join her brother John, also on 24 Plains. Probably the carpenters, nailers, while in Cobourg seems to have been August. William Fitzgerald returned to coopers, and blacksmiths brought among exemplary. This was made clear in the Lower Canada, as did Cornelius the emigrants proved themselves useful Address of the magistrates, clergy, and Callaghan, son of John Callaghan. One at this point. This was the same scow in o t h er “Ch i ef I n h ab i t an t s o f woman joined George Buck's family in which Catharine Parr Traill ascended the Northumberland County” which was Cobourg.38 {164} As deaths and births last few miles of the Otonabee with her presented to Maitland in the following were not usually dated in the Returns, it is husband in 1832. She recounted how winter, as he passed through Cobourg to not possible to estimate the numbers who "the first attempt to connect the Rice Scott’s Plains. came up to Scott's Plains, but it must have Lake with Peterborough was by a large Your Excellency's intention of visiting been about 1900, if births equalled deaths scow propelled by horsepower. This fails the settlements which have been on the trip from Kingston to Scott's through bad management; the vessel recently formed in the northern Plains. William Cunningham, son of became unmanageable, the horses townships manifests the interest you James Cunningham, remained in Cobourg. escaped and made for an island in Rice are pleased to take in the prosperity of About 1942 had reached Kingston. After Lake..."33 After this calamity the scow the province....We avail ourselves of that, 49 had left the expedition (33 deaths was kept for the last four miles of rapids this opportunity to assure Your at Kingston, 2 others remained there, 4 below Peterborough, where the first Excellency of our gratitude to the deserted at Cobourg, 1 settled there, 9 steamer had not sufficient power to Government of the mother country for returned to Lower Canada) and only one ascend. the generosity which it has ever had joined. This is approximately correct During the delay at Sully, one Irish evinced towards this colony, and as the Statement of Emigrants on 1 March emigrant ventured out on the lake in a particularly for promoting emigration 1826 recorded 1878 settlers in the skiff and was drowned. When the first of many useful European settlers to Newcastle District: 621 men, 512 women, settlers were ready to continue toward our district under the superintendency and 745 children.39 their lands, Robinson reported: "The first of the Honourable Peter Robinson. As one scow load after another was party I ascended the river with consisted We cannot refrain from bearing brought up the rushing Otonabee, Scott's of 20 men of the country hired as testimony to the good conduct of Plains must have presented a lively axemen, and 30 of the healthiest of the those settlers during their residence at colourful panorama. After landing with The Heritage Gazette of the Trent Valley Volume 6, number 2, August 2001 20

baggage, utensils, and provisions, the their families in Douro (and entertained, it being for several years the emigrants immediately set to work elsewhere). These huts already cause only comfortable and "gentlemanly" constructing rude temporary huts made the "Plains" to be called a village... residence in the frontier town. It was built from rough slabs from the mill, bark, Doctor Reade has come as the of logs, with square gables and shingled branches, and sods. These sheltered them emigrants' doctor; the doctor is liked roof, 40 feet long by 20 feet wide, with a until they could settle on their lands after among the poor Irish; he is a very door near the middle of the front, partly their shanties had been built thereon. humane, hospitable, friendly little concealed by a wooden porch. {166} These temporary huts were probably man. The poor creatures suffered a There were two windows in front and built behind the town plot on what was great deal, and many died.... The mill three in rear, and the interior was divided later called "the squatters' ground." This at Scott's is again stopped. We have into three rooms of nearly equal size by was situated "in the direction of the recourse again to grind the wheat by two log partitions running from front to Cavan and Emily roads",40 the latter of hand-mill...The wheat is winnowed by back. The front door opened into the which roads was built afterwards by the sifting in the wind. The bread is middle room, the chief reception room, emigrants. One of these emigrants left a coarse and black, besides we have and doors opened from this into the two description of the scene: barrelled pork and pea soup.... Mr. side rooms. Robinson slept in the east On the plain beside the river might Stewart is at present in York; he goes room which was also his private office, be seen the older of our number down the river in the scow, which is containing books, papers and maps. The engaged in the 'discoorsin' so dear to used to bring the immigrants and west room was a kitchen. In the interior, the hearts of the Irish, while cheerily provisions from Rice Lake.43 the logs were all hewed to a level, and the mounting to the sky were the thin Samuel Strickland, arriving from crevices both inside and out were blue trails of smoke issuing from our Darlington township in the autumn of carefully filled with mortar and "chinks". cabins, where the pretty colleens 1825, noted the new village. This backwoods mansion faced south on were preparing the wholesome food "I travelled east along the Kingston the southeast corner of Simcoe and Water provided by Mr. Robinson for the road for 25 miles to the boundary line Streets, about 30 feet from the former and 'bhoys' who were busy felling the between the townships of Hope and 40 feet from the latter. A large area north giant timbers of the encircling forest. Hamilton. After this I walked 27 miles across Simcoe Street behind the house Then you might see them tripping through Cavan and Monaghan to the was fenced in as a garden, and several gaily down to the river, their water town of Peterborough, which at that small sheds and stables were built pitchers cleverly balanced on their time contained one log house and a between the house and the riverbank.45 pretty heads; and I've never seen very poor sawmill erected some 5 or 6 Four smaller log houses were erected handsomer girls. Of course they years before by one Adam Scott to farther south, standing in a row facing east weren't dressed well; they wore just provide the new settlement of Smith on Water Street, along the eastern edge of homemade flannel dresses, spun and with lumber. I found several hundreds the present Market Square. The largest dyed by their own hands; and such of Mr. Robinson's emigrants camped and northernmost was the Market Weigh- merry eyes of true Irish blue. Yes, on the plains. Many had built scale House; it was about 18 by 20 feet, my wife Kathleen was one of those themselves huts of pine and spruce while the others were a little smaller. The very girls.41 boughs; some with slabs and others northern one was used as a residence by "But there were other and sadder sights with logs of trees. Three or 4 Doctor Reade, and as a temporary church and sounds: the mother crooning over government storehouses and a house in which the first priests celebrated mass her fever-stricken child some Irish for the Honourable Peter Robinson for the emigrants. Mrs. Stewart lullaby; or at the burial of a dead son or were in course of erection. I had commented: brother, that wildest of all human cries of letters of introduction to that You must know that all these houses grief, the Irish 'keen' startling the echoes gentleman, and also to the Honourable which sound so grand are merely log of {165}the lonely hills..."42 Thus the T.A. Stewart and Robert Reid.... As I houses, and little better than the depot was a lively place, the more so as did not like the appearance of the cabins at home.... Dr. Reade's house is Birdsall was surveying it in October and lodgings I was likely to obtain in the a very small, miserable, inconvenient November at the time. new town, I went on to Mr. Stewart's place, but is only a temporary one. In this same time Mrs. Stewart house and presented my credentials.44 The Government House is the best I wrote: As mentioned above, five buildings ever saw for a log house.46 The arrival of the poor immigrants were erected by Robinson, being begun as The two central cabins were used as from Ireland has given us some soon as he arrived with the first party of storehouses for the provisions and variety. They are encamped on the emigrants and axemen. These were to supplies to be issued to the emigrants, and "Plains" about 2½ miles off. Their serve as headquarters for the settlement the southern cabin was Robinson's general huts look very odd, being made with project. The largest of them, long known office, where he supervised the location poles standing up, boughs or as "Government House", was the and rationing of the settlers, aided by his branches of trees interwoven, and residence of Peter Robinson, Alexander chief clerk, Richard Thornhill (brought mud plastered over this. They live in McDonell and John Smith the surveyor, out as an "emigrant") and others. That all these till log shanties are ready for and in this house visiting celebrities were these houses were of logs shows the The Heritage Gazette of the Trent Valley Volume 6, number 2, August 2001 21

uselessness of the Scott mill. Just when the strictest obedience; there are many idle W. Fraser to Bastable in Kingston, 27 it would have been of immense value rascals exciting the people to February1826, that he "had visited the {167}to the settlers and of great profit to disobedience, but I am determined to emigrants daily and was satisfied that the Scott, it was stopped by low water, due carry a high hand at the depot."49 On 21 charge against Bastable of trying to induce to the small flow coming from the back October, he wrote to his brother again, them to go to the United States country at that time. mentioning Bastable's attempts to get unfounded.” There was also enclosed a Scott had found more lucrative them to complain, and the mischief that letter from Hillier to Bastable telling him employment. Being a canny man, and this tampering has done; the settlers were to submit his case to Maitland, knowing the weakness of the Irish for behaving well now, but he found out that disclaiming knowledge of "affidavits from raw whisky, he had started a primitive some were reporting all that passed to Irish emigrants that he had held out distillery in his house, which was located Bastable in Kingston by letter; "it is inducements for them to go to the United west of Water Street midway between provoking to work hard and then to be States" In June, Bastable visited London King and Charlotte Streets, quite close to misrepresented."50 Reade wrote to Peter to probe the matter, declaring that "but for the government offices. Being too poor Robinson from Monaghan on 2 December his exertions not 1/5th of the Irish would to buy a metallic "worm" for his still, from Monaghan, when Robinson have remained." He enclosed a letter from Scott used a long wooden tube cooled by apparently was absent, warning him of himself to Hillier stating that some the application of water, through which Bastable’s plots to excite discontent emigrants had been induced to make the vapour was passed. There was no among the emigrants, and the mischief it affidavits that he (Bastable) had held out method of purifying the spirit. This had done and might do.51 encouragements to them to go to the coarse, raw, disagreeable whisky had a Bastable was one of the group, United States, which he vigorously brisk sale, however, and Scott was well interested in the emigrant trade from denied. In July and August 1829, he was repaid for his business ability. The Ireland, who separately offered their again in London, pestering Murray and regular price was 10 to 15c. a gallon, or services 1822-5 to bring out the assisted Sidmouth for land grants and a position as a gallon was given for a pound of meat emigrants from Ireland, and became bitter leader of the new assisted emigrations or flour, which the Irish had in excess enemies when Robinson was chosen which he hoped would be started. due to the generosity of Robinson. instead; the group contained Bastable, Sidmouth wrote to Richmond However bad the whisky was, it satisfied Astle, A.C. Buchanan, Cockburn, recommending him to a position, the not-too-dainty taste of the emigrants, Bannister, E.A. Talbot, and several others, enclosing a letter from Dalhousie to accustomed to "mountain-dew poteen", more or less qualified, but all eager to get Bastable regretting that he had neither and was more quickly intoxicating than a government position. As early as 17 office nor lands to give "fit for the civilized liquor. February 1823, Bastable was pestering acceptance of a gentleman". In May and True to our Irish blood, we felt the Horton for an interview to present his June 1835 we find A. Bastable again in need of a stimulant, of a cheering claims to lead emigration to Canada and a London fawning on the new Colonial draught to partake to help us in our year later again was back in London, Secretary, Glenelg, and begging for lands work. Our inward dissatisfaction in having settled his family in Kingston, in Canada, and being met with this respect was at length given vent Upper Canada, to beg for lands and contemptuous silence.53 Bastable's part in to in words and consequently an positions in the colonies, claiming stirring up the emigrants between July enterprising man started the significant connections with Lord 1825 in Kingston and December in Scott's distillery. It was a good financial Ennismore and others in south Ireland, Plains was probably quite minor. Nor do venture, but OH! such whisky!47 and with Mackenzie and Oldham in we know how far he was encouraged and Robinson sent a few letters at this Montreal. Horton, in August 1824, dryly supported by Dalhousie. period which throw some new light on informed Maitland that Bastable was to Surgeon Connin of the Fortitude the situation. On 25 August he wrote to have lands in proportion to his capital.52 decided to settle among the {170} emi- Hillier that although he had been slightly We next hear of him in letters from grants in Otonabee, and in August wrote unwell, and that the weather had been Robinson and Reade in the autumn of to Robinson when both were in Cobourg: unhealthy, “there have been few cases of 1825, as having stirred up trouble among 5th August, 1825. illness among the settlers who are in the emigrants in Kingston and Cobourg. Dear Sir, highest spirits on being so near their There seems much truth in these charges, I would be very much obliged if you destination."48 On 6 October, when he especially when we learn that Bastable would be kind enough to give me wrote to his brother John, he expected to {169}was supported by Dalhousie, a bitter your opinion re the drawing of my have a surveyor come soon to confer enemy of Maitland and assisted grant of land viz 800 acres. Major with him on the survey of the town plot emigration of Irish to Upper Canada. But Hillier suggested to me that perhaps at the head of the Otonabee, {168} at on 15 May 1827, Charles Grant you would allow me lands among "the prettiest place I ever saw"; he (seemingly a radical member of the those set aside for the emigrants and suggested that it might be called "Wilmot Assembly) wrote to Horton to defend as I thought you might locate some of Horton". There were signs of trouble Bastable, enclosing a statement by Bishop them in Otonabee, I selectly attached when he continued:"There is no saying McDonell certifying that he was sure that to that township except for its vicinity what difficulty I may meet with; I exact Bastable was innocent, and a letter of Rev. to the great leading road, Cobourg and The Heritage Gazette of the Trent Valley Volume 6, number 2, August 2001 22

Lake Ontario, whereby supplies attention, although some of them did. might be obtained with greater [End part six] facility than to townships more Irish Research: remote. If I can be any use to you in assisting with emigrants my services Hickey family are freely at your command, as I Heber Genealogies would be very glad to do anything to promote the success of the [Rev William Hickey (“Martin Doyle”), Expedition in which I see you so well-known for his efforts to elevate the much interested.. condition of the peasantry of Ireland, was East 1/2 lot 23 & lot 26 in 11th eldest son of Rev Ambrose Hickey, rector conc...... 300 acres. of Murragh, co. Cork. He was born about Francis Lots 21 & 18 in 14th 1787, graduated at St John’s College, concession...... 400 Cambridge, and subsequently took the East 1/2 lot 24 in 5th degree of M.A. in the University of concession...... 100 Dublin. He was ordained a clergyman of Connin, Surgeon R.N. the Established Church in 1811, and The reason they are so detached is appointed to the curacy of Dunleckny, co. that the other parts are already Carlow. In 1820 he was inducted into the occupied, still in that township 6000 rectory of Bannow, co. Wexford, and in acres remain for location; I have not 1834 to Mulrankin, where he ministered applied for these yet but merely mark the remainder of his life. As a parochial them on the map of the township...54 clergyman he was esteemed alike by Connin received his grants in Otonabee, Catholics and Protestants. He commenced for he wrote in December to Robinson as his career as a writer in 1817, his first follows: work being a pamphlet on the State of the Hon. Peter Robinson, Peterboro, poor in Ireland. Afterwards followed a Tues. morning, 9th December, 1825. series of letters under the pseudonym of Dear Sir, “Martin Doyle,” under which he I request you will have the goodness to send by the bearer Edward Boswell the continued to write. He wrote numerous money you promised to send me when I works; his latest production, published a had the pleasure of seeing you last, or an few years before his death, was Notes and order on Mr. Bethune; If my occasions Gleanings of the County of Wexford. In all did not require it you would not be his writings he took the broadest troubled in this manner, but I hope it is philanthropic views, studiously avoiding sufficient to say my house is finished... religious and political controversy. He 55 F. Connin. was awarded a gold medal by the Royal Dublin Society, in recognition of his Honble. P. Robinson, Peterboro. services to Ireland, and enjoyed a pension Otonabee, 16th December 1825. I received the check on Mr. Bethune for from the Literary Fund. He was a man of which I am extremely obliged, enclosed an eminently charitable and feeling nature, you have the receipts perfected as you and died comparatively poor, 24 October desired. As for my viewing any docu- 1875, aged 87.] ments connected with this I have not the least feeling of curiosity on that point. I Einsioda, brother of Maolclochach who is am myself most perfectly satisfied.56 No 101 on the “McNamara” pedigree was The very important fact to be noticed the ancestor of O’h-Iocaigh, and regarding these two notes is that they MacIocaigh anglicised Hickey and Hickie. were addressed to Robinson at "Peterboro" in December 1825. The 101. Einsioda: son of Cuilean village was named, months before the 102. Ainiochadagh: his son name was officially used. Connin 103. Iocaigh; his son and MacIocaigh obtained the lots designated above, 104. Michliagh, his son apparently without difficulty, and the 105. Erc: his son grants were issued to him for his 800 106. Donall O’Hickey; his son; first 57 acres on 23 February 1830. Thus, two assumed this surname competent surgeons from the transports 107. Deaghadh, his son settled among the emigrants; they could 108. Acdh: his son not complain of lack of med-ical The Heritage Gazette of the Trent Valley Volume 6, number 2, August 2001 23

109. Cormac; his son 110. James: his son 111. Cormac (2) his son 112. Teige: his son 113. Owen: his son 114. Muireadhagh: his son 115. John: his son 116. Aedh (or Hugh): his son 117. John (2) his son 118. John (3) O’Hickey

The O’Hickey’s were formerly chiefs of a district in the vicinity of Killaloe, County Clare, also of a cantral in the barony of Upper Connelle, in the County of Limerick. They were hereditary physicians to the O’Briens, Kings of Thomond; to the MacNamaras, lords of Hy-Caisin; and to the O’Kennedys of Ormond; and several of them are said to have compiled and translated valuable medical works, amongst others Nichol O’Hickey, the translator into Irish of a Latin Medical Work called “The Rose,” known also as the “Book of the O’Boulgers.” The O’Hickies possessed a copy of “The Lily,” a celebrated Medical Work, compiled in AD 1304, of which several transcripts are known to exist.

1. James Hickie, Esq, of County Clare, whose estates were seized on by the English in 1652. 2. William, his son 3. William (2), his son 4. Michael: his son 5. William (3) his son 6. William (4) his son 7. William Creagh Hickey, Esq, JP: his son; the representative of his family, living at Killelton, County Kerry in 1864.

Ellis Island Database

During its first 54 hours of operation, the Ellis Island Database had 26 million visitors, an average rate of 27000 hits per second. The figure does not include the countless people who received error messages and could not access the site. The information came from Peg Zitko at the Statue of Liberty - Ellis Island Foundation Inc. and was reported in Eastman’s Online Genealogy Newsletter. The Heritage Gazette of the Trent Valley Volume 6, number 2, August 2001 24

Peterborough Photographers, 1847-1900 by Fraser Dunford half decade beginning1846 1851 1856 1861 1866 1871 1876 1881 1886 1891 1896

Barrie, William J / Hunter Pbo xx Booth, Donald W / Norwood xxx xxx Brumwell, Jacob H. / Pbo x Burgis, C J / Lakefield xxx Byers, Harry J / George St / Pbo xx xxxxx + Byers, Harry J / Water St / Pbo x Callender, FG / Pbo xxx Carson, John / Norwood x Clarke, Ed / at Mr Barrie's x Cox, George A. x Cunningham, A / Havelock xxxx + Cunningham, A / Norwood xx + Early, George J / Pbo xxxxx xxxx Early, Thomas G / Pbo xxxxx xx Ervins, R D / Pbo x Esterbrook, Thomas / Pbo x xxxx Esterbrook, Thos Mr & Mrs / Pbo xxxxx x Esterbrook, Thomas Mrs / Pbo xx x Ewing / Cobourg & Pbo Ewing / Port Hope & Pbo x Ewing, Robt D / Pbo xxxx x Fife, Mrs W B / Norwood x Forbes, George / Simcoe Pbo xx Ford, A E / Pbo xxxx Forsyth, James / Lakefield x Forsyth, John / Simcoe Pbo xx xxxxx Fuller, John B / Norwood x Green, Garnet / Lakefield xxx Green, Garnet / Pbo xxxx + Green, J W & Son / Pbo xx + Green, Peter H / Pbo xxx xxxxx xx Hall / Hunter Pbo x Hamil & Ball / Pbo x Insley, L / Albert House Pbo x Johnston, T & Co / Pbo x Kennedy, James C / Pbo x Lawes, Charles / Pbo x Lazier, H / Pbo x Lendrum, Wm G / Havelock x Little & Lawrence / Norwood x Little, James / Pbo x xxxxx xxxxx McClelland, Joseph / Pbo xxx McFadden, Wm / Pbo x xxxxx xxx McNeely, Isaac / Pbo x Meade, Richard / Pbo x Miller, J / Pbo x The Heritage Gazette of the Trent Valley Volume 6, number 2, August 2001 25

Milne, R / Pbo x Nelson, John / George St / Pbo x Peck's Pbo xxx Petch & Raymond / Pbo x Phillips, Peter / Hastings x Platt, C H / Havelock x x Rosebush, J A / Glen Alda xxx Roy / Hunter Pbo xxxxx + Roy, R M (Robert M) / Pbo xxxxx + Royal Art Studio / Pbo x Smith, Robert / Pbo x xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx Spencely, Joseph x Sproule, George B / Pbo xx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xx Terrill, L H / Pbo x Thompson, R Mrs / Pbo x Thomson, R & Son / Pbo xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx + Welch & Munro / Pbo x Whiten, G E / Hunter Pbo xxxx +

Total in the half decade 4 2 6 4 12 8 6 10 15 13 16 1846 1851 1856 1861 1866 1871 1876 1881 1886 1891 1896

The foregoing table shows when each photographer in PHOTOGRAPHIC AND FINE ART GALLERY Peterborough county was active between 1847 and 1900. Each row is a photographer; each column is a half- WALTON STREET HUNTER STREET decade. The cross in the final column indicates a photographic firm that was continuing into the new PORT HOPE, PETERBORO’, century.

This project is part of an ongoing project to collect R. D. EWING, photographs that will help identify when particular CARD PICTURES, LANDSCAPES, photographers were active, and the styles they used in printing their photos. This will help date pictures that are PICTURES ENLARGED & COLORED undated in many collections, including those in the Trent Valley Archives and other local archives. Mr Ewing begs to state that his Galleries have been Pronounced by Competent Judges If you have photographs taken by any of these THE MOST photographers, and especially those for which you have Artistically Lighted and Fitted useful information that permits dating, please contact OF ANY IN THE PROVINCE. Fraser Dunford by email or by phone, 654-4418. Or you may Specialty, contact the Trent Valley Archives. ENLARGING PORTRAITS OF The accompanying advertisement for R.D. Ewing’s is based on DECEASED PERSONS the advertisement that appeared in Dr Poole’s The Early Settlement of Peterborough County, first published in 1867. On ANY SIZE UP TO LIFE. the next page we feature a list and an ad for Green & Son which THOROUGHLY COLOURED IN OIL appeared in Farmers and Business Directory for the counties of Durham, Haliburton, Northumberland, Peterboro’ and January, 1867 Victoria vol. XII (Ingersoll, Union Publishing Co, 1901) The Heritage Gazette of the Trent Valley Volume 6, number 2, August 2001 26

Northwest Photo has several years of early assessment Thessalon rolls, and other records from the City. GREEN & SON, Barrett Richard Trout As well, it has some fine private Creek archival holdings. Its collection policy Photographers, is to collect public records of the city, as well as private papers and records of The Finest Studio in the Town. Up-to- PCMA Acquires individuals, organizations, and local date Photography Only businesses connected to Peterborough. Visits Lakefield Friday Afternoon War-time Military The City of Peterborough is its “ Havelock from 1st to 15th each Month sponsoring agency. “ Bobcaygeon from 16th to 30th each Month Records The brochure defines archival as South Side of Hunter St., Peterboro. Jim Leonard announced that the PCMA unique, original, irreplaceable materials City Archives have acquired the no longer required on a day-to-day PHOTOGRAPHERS Peterborough Examiner’s biographical basis. “Archival material must, how- files prepared for 3,500 World War II ever, be of permanent historical value - 1901 military recruits from the Peterborough worthy of long-term preservation.” Freeland, Geo P area. For each individual, the files Bowmanville record name, rank, branch of the Tait & Co Bowmanville service, parents’ names, home address, Ryan R W Bracebridge date of enlistment, as well as inform- New Elgin County Timms P T Bracebridge ation about wounds and honours. Each Persey Wm Burks Falls packet contained a zinc plate litho- Archives Established Richmond J L Campbellford graphic portrait which could be printed Huston W J Cobourg to illustrate stories about those killed- [Brian Masschaele tells the editor of his Stanton J H Fenelon Falls in-action, or other noteworthy events. new position and suggests ideas of Leach J Miss Fort William value to those who believe, as he does, Stevens S Fort William The preparation of the files was done in that we need strong county archives Peters Henry Gore Bay co-operation with the Roy Studio. As a throughout Ontario. The Trent Valley Wismer J L Gore Bay result, some of the photos are also Archives began in 1989, committed to Barke J F Gravenhurst available in the Kidd collection of the idea that strong county or regional Cunningham A. Hastings wartime portraits, and in the Balsillie archives were essential to the study of history in east central Ontario.] Green & Son Havelock collection of Roy Studio prints, both of Huntsville Photo Huntsville which are also in the PCMA City You are quite correct that the issue of a Green J W & Son Lakefield Archives. Andrus M Lindsay county archives has been peculating Fowler & Co Lindsay The press release gives the example of here since at least 1989. At that time, a Morton M Miss Lindsay Pte Roy Thomas Hawthorne, a city number of county and township records public works employee. He enlisted in Oliver I H Lindsay were transferred to the fourth floor of February 1943, trained at Morrow Park Williamson Eli Lindsay the county building where they have and Camp Borden, went overseas in Charron Bruno Mattawa July 1943, was posted with the 48th basically sat ever since along with an Tait & Co Millbrook Highlanders, and was killed-in-action in extremely large and valuable photo Brooks R J North Bay the Caen sector, 8 August 1944. His collection. All records were at least Andrews M Omemee parents, Mr & Mrs Percy Hawthorne inventoried at a basic level. I have been Boyd W J Parry Sound lived at 266 Aylmer St. hired to build an entirely new facility Byers H J Peterborough and program to manage these records Green & Son Peterborough For further information, contact Jim and others still out in the field. Roy R M Peterborough Leonard at the PCMA City Archives, Hamly E T Port Hope P.O. Box 143, Peterborough K9J 6Y5, Neal E B Port Hope or by phone (705) 743-5180. The plan here is to develop a total Bell W J Sault Ste Marie county archives encompassing both Dunlop Wm Sault Ste Marie The City Archives has a rich collection private and public records along the Young A E Sault Ste Marie of archival documents. It began with the lines of the Simcoe County model, a Robson Thomas Sturgeon Falls initiatives of Anne Heideman and program I am intimately familiar with as Thompson M B & Co Sudbury Marianne Mackenzie about thirty years a past archivist. A support association - ago, and has steadily grown. In addition Faulkner J C Sundridge the Elgin St. Thomas Archives to the fine photographic collections, it Gillespie George Thessalon Association - has been in place for three The Heritage Gazette of the Trent Valley Volume 6, number 2, August 2001 27

years and has been a crucial supporter and among other things, spoke about the lobbying agent to get the archives going. College of Physicians and Surgeons of This group represents a good cross section Ontario past members database. He argued against systematically destroying of the community, including strong paper. Keeping paper ensures higher representation from the local business and quality for the digital records. Paper legal communities in addition to the records have a long shelf life, and in traditional stalwarts of local historical AAO Meets in many cases are required for legal societies and the like. Black Creek Village purposes. He made a refreshing defence of understanding how things were done rather than the reinventing the wheel. The current county council made the most Digitization was the theme of the 2001 He also defended the importance of the significant move in allocating sufficient AAO conference, held at Black Creek best copy as opposed to the original. resources in 2000 to move ahead. I was Village, 14 and 15 June. hired in March of 2001 and am now in the A team from the National Archives of Dr Tom Axworthy gave a fascinating process of developing the program, Canada explained how they were able to discussion about Historica, and its including specifications for a new facility help the Canadian Nursing Association projects to make Canadian history more protect its archives. The CNA archives in the county building and a mandate for accessible. They took Encyclopedia has gone to the NAC and to the the program. My duties will essentially Canadiana and the Dictionary of Canadian Museum of Civilization. The have two components; the acquisition and Canadian Biography to the classroom NAC is developing a web base for dis- access to public and private archival via CD Rom, and now the web. They playing artifacts, photos and documents. records pertaining to the county's have begun a program of community grants to history projects which development as well as active records Bruce Vallillee spoke of how he had encourage critical inquiry, transmit management duties. The focus here will developed a company to help archives stories and engage the community. They always be on public access and creating a who wished to preserve their historic hope to make their web-site the gateway documents in digital forms. He speaks total community resource. to other great history sites. from a long experience in matters technical, but his passion for archives is Our current Warden, Duncan McPhail, These are all pretty important catching. says "Council is firmly committed to objectives. Over the years, local historical societies and museums have archives. The future is very bright." The AAO Board of Directors wants a tried to bring history alive through field consultation process with the provincial trips and special projects. Historica Peterborough and Kawartha Lakes and a government on archives and municipal wants the community (both in schools restructuring. There is concern that number of other jurisdictions need to do and in the wider world) to have solid restructuring did not give due attention something similar. I spent a lot of my bases of information, and is hopeful that to the care and management of records energy as advisor promoting the concept the internet can be the avenue to that in the former municipalities. of total regional/county archives in the access. I also like their willingness to bring value added to projects that local province. I want to see an Ontario county The AAO offices are in Coach House at groups develop. However, that leaves record office system! I even tried to lobby 376 Rusholme Road in Toronto. the onus on local groups to come up for provincial government support with special projects that depend upon Reach by phone (416) 533-9592 or by through the Archives of Ontario and their established infrastructure. That is email [email protected],ca various ministries given the serious not always easy. However, I love the Web http://archeion-aao.fis.utoronto.ca implications of local amalgamations and idea that history is about details and the fate of records. I must admit I was well-crafted stories. Axworthy was a very frustrated by the lack of provincial kindred spirit. resolve on this issue, something which Archival Continuing maybe you and your friends in the A group from the Toronto Public Library showed how they were academic community can advocate better. Education developing a virtual reference library at I can tell you as a result of my tenure as http://vrl.tpl.toronto.on.ca Known as There are at least two routes open to archives advisor that a lot of the really Historicity - the history of the city - the people who wish to pursue archival good "stuff" about the history of this group is finding ways to define studies in Ontario. The AAO has province is still awaiting a proper home. neighbourhoods and make the library developed a professional development more accessible. schedule that allows people to get the Brian Masschaele, Archivist core courses in three years while still Jon Schmitz, a Trent University grad employed. During 2001-2, it offers The Heritage Gazette of the Trent Valley Volume 6, number 2, August 2001 28

courses ARCH 1000 to ARCH 1004; in retired to Peterborough, where they 16 Russellites the following year, ARCH 1005 to ARCH found a nice home on the water and 17 Salvation Army 1008; and in the third year, ARCH 1010 where Archie resolved to write the 18 Baptists to ARCH 1013. The courses begin with history of Victoria County. He set about 19 Methodists Introduction to the Management of Small systematically to collect the information 20 Presbyterians Archives, and then looks at Arrangement that he needed, and in the process 21 Glenarm Church, Woodville and Description, Records Management, discovered more than was manageable 21A Presbyterans in Canada Acquisition and Reference Room and for the book. He hoped that his 22 Humour and Superstition Public Service. In the second year, the collection might permit someone else to 23 Thurston Church courses are on Archival Appraisal, write the history he never completed, 24 Lighting Inventories and Finding Aids, and Media and perhaps that might yet happen. 25 Telephones Collections. In the third year, the courses Whatever else, his research collection is 26 Mail are on Conservation, Access to most comprehensive and filled with 27 Local Press Information and Privacy, Legal Aspects surprises for historians of families and 28 Glenarm and Rules for Archival Description. areas connected to Victoria County. It is 29 Free Church -Woodville certainly our best collection on the 29A Christmas Carols There are also plans for advanced courses county (now known as the City of 30 Queen's University on most of these areas, as well as on Kawartha Lakes). 31 United Church ARCHEION, Fundraising, and Oral 32 Trent - Kawartha History. There will also be seminars on The fonds is arranged by Archie’s 33 Local railways Healt and Safety, Volunteer Management, system. When the information 34 Fenelon Disaster Planning, Grant Writing and overflowed he started another series. As 34A I Fenelon Bexley (red binder) Artifacts. a result, researchers will have to look 34B Fenelon photographs widely to find information, but the list 34C 291A Fenelon Falls newspapers Algonquin College in Ottawa offers of file titles is most helpful. The TVA 34D Fenelon - telephones, lighting courses leading to a certificate in Archives has begun indexing family names 35 Islay School / Records Management in as few as fifteen associated with some of the more dense 36 Dunsford family months. Jane Boyko, the Program Co- files, and those can be consulted in the 37 Kirkfield ordinator can be reached at research room. Some restrictions apply. 38 Bennet and Burleigh [email protected] for more 39 Fenelon photographs information. Special thanks to Don Willcock, Chris 40 Brock Township & Cannington Parker and Marianne Mackenzie for 41 Pioneer - clearing and settling Students wishing to get a university arranging and describing this fonds. 42 Woodville degree in Archives can do so through the [E. Murray history of Woodville] Faculty of Information Services at the We hope in future issues to print the 43 Bolsover and Lorneville University of Toronto. Contact Dr Barbara finding aids of other important 44 Hartley and Palestine, Bolsover, Craig. Elsewhere in Canada, there are holdings. Victoria Road strong programs at UBC and at Manitoba. 45 Thorah The University of Windsor no longer Volume 1 Files 1-55 46 Victoria Road plus Sandringham offers the archives option in its History 47 Eldon MA. file on Archie Tolmie, local historian, [Jean MacKay historical sketch] Peterborough Common Press, 13 48 Pioneers of Eldon - Hugh Ray January 1976 49 Woodville Presbyterian Church 1 [by R.A. MacKay] 2 Railways 50 Fenelon (50A) T r e n t V a l l e y 3 Upper Kawarthas - Trent Canal 51 Passenger Pigeons 4 Scugog 52 Pleasant Point (L.E. Frost) Archives: 5 Indians 53 Irish Question, by Ramsay Muir 6 Women's Institutes 54 Scottish Question, by Gordon A. B. Tolmie Fonds 7 Electoral Districts Macdonald 8 CIL Agrichemigrams 55 English Question, Ramsay Muir Fonds 3 A.B. Tolmie Fonds 10.5 cu ft 9 C.I.L. 10 Eldon Township Index Volume 2 Files 56 to 94 Archie Tolmie and his wife, the former 11 Icelanders Evelyn Murray, were natives of the 12 Christianity 56 Major General Sam Hughes Woodville area of Victoria county. They 13 Temperance 57 Military raised four children mainly in Halifax, 14 Marriages _ Anglican 58 Societies where Tolmie worked for CIL (Canadian 15 Catholicism 59 Provincial Politics Indiustries Limited). Archie and Evelyn The Heritage Gazette of the Trent Valley Volume 6, number 2, August 2001 29

60 Farming organizations 104B Victoria District Local 11 1000 Fenelon Falls 60A Junior Farmers Government 12 1100 Woodville and Eldon 61 Political pre 1791 105A Prime Ministers 13 1200 Eldon and Mariposa 62 Mariposa 105B Political 14 1300 Eldon - Assessment roll 63 Pilgrim Fathers 106 G.W. Brown, Canadian Nation for 1877 64 Maple products 107 Catharine Parr Traill; Victoria 15 1400 Mariposa 65 Farmers, political Dist. 16 1400 Peterborough Architectural 66 Indians 108 Long Point Heritage, Shopper's Market, 30 67 Money 109 Early Surveys, organizations June 1982 68 Ross Hospital 110 Local autonomy 17 1500 Trent Valley Canal 69 Agriculture 111 Local interest items 18 1600 Trent Valley 70 Glenarm & Fenelon 112 Fenelon Crown Deeds 19 1600 [Fenelon Falls - names] 70A Lumbering 113 Local markets 20 1700 Fenelon Falls 71 Grand Island 114 Education in Victoria County 21 1800 Political - federal 72 Scrap Book #1 115 Peterborough 22 1900 [Poetry and sayings] 72A Scrap Book #3 116 British Columbia 23 2000 Pioneers 73 Barnardo Boys 117 Stoddart family 24 2100 Fenelon Township 74 Robinson settlers 118 Boy Scouts 25 2200 Fenelon Falls 75 119 RC Diocese of Peterborough 26 Miscellaneous data 76 Fenelon Falls Gazette centennial 120 Bexley 27 OGS, Kawartha Branch, 77 Manvers Township 121 Leslie Frost and Sam Hughes Bulletin, vol 4, no 4 (1979) 78 Emily Township 122 Henry VIII and Catharine Parr 28 1474L "Dearly Beloved" by 79 Huston papers 123 Toronto Eileen Gariepy and Cindy Carter, 80 Lindsay and Ops 124 Peterborough Planning museum exhibit on wedding 80A Lindsay - newspaper clippings 125 Cape Breton costumes 81 Goose Lake 126 Quebec 29 1174 Ontario Summer Games, 82 Family Compact 127 Indian lands Peterborough 1980 83 Early Victoria county 128 Historical notes 30 CIL 84 Sugar beet factory 129 Peterborough 31 Coins and coinage 85 Victoria Manor 130 Used for reference 32 Burns Lodge, Masonic 86 Naming Peterborough 131 Miscellaneous 33 Rotary 87 Sports - Hunting 132 Post-Mercury 1939 and 1978 34 Rotary - Halifax 88W.J. Junkins, Notes on Fenelon 133 New constitution for Canada 35 2300 Military Falls, 1933 134 Maps 36 2400 Woodville 89 Fenelon Falls 1880s 135 Fenelon Twp Voters List 1968 37 2500 Victoria 90 Organizations - Societies 136 Mariposa School Register 1904 38 2600 Lindsay Post articles 91 Colborne District 137 Mariposa School Register 1908 39 2700 Fenelon and Mariposa 92 Roads and Highways 138 Mariposa School Register 1912 assessment rolls 93 Verulam and Harvey 139 Mariposa School Register 1919 93A Pioneers - Little Lake Cemetery 140 Mariposa School Register 1925 Volume 5 Scribblers series 2800- 923B United Empire Loyalists 141 Mariposa School Register 1928 6200 -- Our Heritage 142 CASS Glengarry Tour, 1982 93C David Thompson, explorer 143 Research notebook 1 2800 93D Early Canadian History 2 2900 94 Tables - Political Volume 4 Scribblers series 100-2700 3 3000 4 3100 Volume 3 Files 95-143 1 Index to Scribblers 5 3200 2 100 Fenelon Falls 6 3300 Lindsay and Ops 95 Recipes 3 200 Fenelon Township 7 3400 Political federal 96 United Counties 4 300 Electoral hist Victoria Co 8 3500 Political federal 97 Fenelon Falls municipality 5 400 Fenelon Falls - religion and 9 3600 Political provincial 98 Shanties political 10 3700 Liquor question 99 Fenelon pioneers 6 500 Miscellaneous data 11 3800 100 7 600 Victoria County 12 3900 Education 101 Political Persons 8 700 Pioneers - Miscellaneous 13 4000 Miscellaneous 102 Political - federal and provincial 9 800 Gleanings from Weekly 14 4100 103 Royal lineage Oats, 1905-1916 15 4200 Woodville Presbyterian 104A Ontario 10 900 Area organizations Church, historical presentation, The Heritage Gazette of the Trent Valley Volume 6, number 2, August 2001 30

1965 23 B17 Indians Volume 8 F to R; Families 16 4300 Municipal affairs, township 24 B18 Railways and county 25 B19 Pioneers Days - Guillet 1 F Glenarm Church Data 17 4400 Miscellaneous 26 B20 Railroads 2 F MacEacherns 18 4500 27 B21 Gaelic 3 G MacKay 19 4600 4 H Carmichael 20 4700 Fenelon Falls, Eldon, Volume 7 B22A to 5 I Ferguson Woodville E 6 J Graham 21 4800 7 K Brown 22 4900 1 Genealogy - 8 L MacLeod 23 5000 miscellaneous 9 M Campbells 24 5100 Our Forest Home and other 2 B22A Education 10 N Baptisms and Weddings: early writings 3 B22B Education Cemeteries, Glenarm, 25 5200 4 B23A Religion Mansegrove 26 5300 Assessment rolls, Eldon 5 B23B Local churches 11 O Cemetery records: South 1877; Mariposa 1851-1853, 1877; 6 B23C Religion Eldon; Glenarm, Smith's, location of churches, schools, roads 7 B24 Political Woodville, Zion, Argyle, 1877 8 B25 The Press Bolsover 27 5400 Fenelon Falls 9 B26 Telephones 12 O Cemeteries 28 5500 United Counties of 10 B27 Victoria county 13 R Graham papers: Graham, Peterborough and Victoria 11 B28 Politics - press clippings Ferguson, Nicholson, 29 5600 Woodville and Junior 12 B29 Money Tolmie Farmers 13 B34 Miscellaneous 14 R Graham papers: Campbell, 30 5700 Woodville and Eldon 14 B35 Newspapers; Chatham Nicholson, Graham, 31 5800 Victoria County Daily News; Ottawa Ferguson personalities Journal; Peterborough Families Series 32 5900 Victoria County in the Examiner 1864 reprint 15 Families: R. Graham's papers Legislative Assembly and 1970 16 Murray 33 6000 Roads and stages 15 B37 Canadian Post, 10 17 Nicholson 34 6100 Education October 1861 (reprint) 18 Campbell 35 6200 Woodville and Eldon 16 B38 Halifax Chronicle-Herald 19 Ptolemy: ancient Celtic (Centennial Edition) 20 Islay MacEacherns Volume 6 A1 to B21 17 B39 Peterborough Examiner - 21 MacEacherns - Islay, Scottish Centennial Edition 22 McIntyre 1 Religion 18 B40 Lindsay Post historic 23 Murray family 2 A1 Religions of Canada stories 24 Tolmie 3 A1 Religions of the World 19 B41 Political - electoral 25 Tolmie 4 A2 Church History districts 26 Painters: Roger Savage, Ken 5 A3 Miscellaneous religion 20 B42 Lindsay - railway town Tolmie 6 A4 Indians 21 A Murchisons 27 Painting 7 B1 Education: sugarmaking, 22 B Murchison II 28 Tolmie chart recipes 23 B Families: Ferguson, 29 Cemetery note book 8 B2 Mail, telephone, light Campbell, Graham, 30 Tolmie 9 B3 Fenelon Township McMillan, McLeod, 31 Tolmie Scotland 10 B4 Fenelon and Fenelon Falls – Murchison, Junkin, 32 Tolmie - 2 photos, 1 negative Junkin Grant, Nicholson, 33 Photo album - photos removed 11 B5 Agriculture MacKay, Gilchrist, Smith (see photos in next file) 12 B6 Lindsay and Ops 24 C MacCrimmon 13 B7 Omemee and Emily 25 C Ferguson, Nicholson, Volume 9 14 B8 Icelanders Brown 15 B9 Sports and Hunting 26 D` Baptisms Fenelon 1 Photos removed from album 16 B10 Liquor and temperance Register 1; MacKay fam; 2 Tolmie family - photo 17 B11 Gypsies and metis Moynes, Campbell, Cun- 3 School reports - Tolmie family 18 B12 Political - federal ningham, Grant; Jamie- 4 School reports - Tolmie family 19 B13 Verulam and Somerville son; Little Lake Ceme- 5 School reports - Tolmie family 20 B14 Pioneers tery; Fred Bell, Calgary 6 Publishing 21 B15 Kawartha and Trent 27 D MacKenzie 7 Committees 22 B16 Scottish and Irish 28 E Nicholsons 8 Miscellaneous correspondence The Heritage Gazette of the Trent Valley Volume 6, number 2, August 2001 31

9 R.W. Tolmie - notebook Dartmouth NS 5 Glenarm Cemetery, layout 10 CIL Publications 16 Notebook on household 11 Photo album - c 1909-1911 expenses, 1930s 12 Autograph album, 1927 17 Investments 13 Travel publications 18 Masonic Lodge Anson House 14 English genealogical conference 19 Mortgage, 427 Windsor Street, pamphlet, 1981 Halifax History launching 15 Lindsay, Bobcaygeon - newspaper 20 Miscellaneous clippings 21 Civil Defence certificate, 1945 The study of the Peterborough 16 CIL photographs 22 Unsorted photos and historical Protestant Home reveals very much 17 Rotary Club binder (empty) documents about changing tastes, about material 18 Ray Smith's Canada, Maclean's, comforts, about volunteers, about May 1972 Volume 11 [4 inch box] Peterborough and about attitudes 19 Rotary Club, Halifax towards the aged, the infirm and the 20 Rotary Club Spokesman of Halifax, 1 Matted photo, family gathering at poor. These ideas are explored in a new 1960-62 a farm book that developed with the co- 21 CIL 2 Matted photo, military unit operation of a history class at Trent 22 St John's United Church, Halifax 3 Matted photo, military unit University, the Anson House 23 Voter's List, Peterborough poll 4 Matted photo, military unit Millennium Committee and the Trent 108, 1968 5 New Zealand Valley Archives (in the Fairview 24 Trinity Church, Peterborough 6 Notebook for Christmas cards Heritage Centre). 25 Trinity United Church, and coin trading Peterborough 7 Photo, A.B. Tolmie, 1959, for The book will be launched officially at 26 St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Halifax Rotary a special reception on the evening of 26 Bolsover, 1979 8 Matted photo, Sarah Murchison September to be held at Anson House, 27 Methodist Church Quarterly and Effie Sinclair, aunts 136 Anson Street, Peterborough. Tickets, 1893, 1897 9 Firearm permit, 1954 Anson Street is a block long, from 28 Tolmie Golden Wedding 10 Fenelon Falls Bylaw 161, to Water St to Hilliard St. Anniversary, 1980: letter from incorporate as a village, 1874 Mayor Cam Wasson (photostat) We hope that members of the Trent 29 Unsorted items 11 Our Family History (blank Valley Archives will attend that night 30 Unsorted items commercial publication) and bring interested friends. The book 31 Tolmie Golden Wedding 12 Peterborough Profile '80, 1980 will also be available through our Book Anniversary, 1980 13 Atlantic Insight, September 1980 Service. 14 Examiner, Weekend Magazine, 7 Volume 10 April 1979 15 Peterborough Board of Museum 1 Unsorted items Management, 1985 Pathway of Fame 2 Photos (2) 16 Matted photo, Mother, father, 3 Unsorted items daughter, baby (by James H. On 21 July 2001, the Peterborough 4 Tolmie Golden Wedding Stanton, Fenelon Falls) Pathway of Fame added the following Anniversary, 1980 17 Matted photo, highway 14 names: 5 Miscellaneous 18 Matted photo, Angus McKay and Harry Sherry 6 Architecture of Old Peterborough, Anne Spence Wally Macht Peterborough Examiner, 17 19 Index Note Cards related to John Muir July1980 family history Dr Barclay McKone 7 Dr William Dunlop will, 1842 Alta Whitfield (transcription) Volume 12 [2 inch flat box] Judy Gibson 8 Maps of Lindsay and Peterborough Gerry O’Connor 9 Household accounts, fuel, 1 The Romance of Magic Island Washboard Hank Fisher Peterborough [LP record] Kountry Klassics 10 Mortgage notes, Dartmouth home 2 Rudolph the Red-Nosed Brian D. Switzer 11 Income Tax Reindeer, [LP record], Exclusive Ernie Victor 12 Income Tax to Robert Simpson Co. George Franks 13 Photographs (4) 3 Matted photo, husband and wife Dennis Sweeting 14 School taxes correspondence, [by Thomas A. Jones, Toronto] Bruce Knapp Spryfield NS 4 Auckland Today [outsize photo 15 House documents, 42 Brule Street, brochure] Honourees are now given a special pin which it is hoped they will wear for The Heritage Gazette of the Trent Valley Volume 6, number 2, August 2001 32

special occasions. had a long and rewarding life, and we efforts for strong regional archives in are grateful that her life touched ours. Ontario, and especially in east central Ontario. There was a description of our In memoriam: Recently Noted archival and genealogical resources, and our impressive and growing computer Olga Dyer Publications database containing over 132,000 local Elwood Jones names. As well, she interviewed Martha Ken Brown has compiled The Invention Ann Kidd about the importance of Olga May Dyer (1912-2001) passed away of the Board Canoe: the Peterborough archives, and sharing memories of when on 27 June. The daughter of Edward A. stories from their sources (Canadian her dining room doubled as our board Sanderson and Agnes Tully and the wife Canoe Museum, 2001) This attractive room. The need for vigilance in the of the Frank Dyer, she is survived by her booklet builds on Ken’s meticulous issues of regional archives; of rights of only son, Bruce, and his wife, Heather. research into the origins of the access and freedom of information; and Peterborough Canoe, and the history of promotion of archives remains. Mrs Dyer was a mine of information about the Canadian Canoe Company. Every Peterborough, and provided great community seems to have several We were particularly pleased to see that assistance to Bruce and I when we were accounts of the origins of the board the Peterborough Examiner is covering writing Peterborough: the Electric City. canoe, and there is no reason why there archival stories more frequently. We For example, she objected to our could not have been multiple origins. noted the coverage of the City Archives. observation that Peterborough was built Most developments are modifications As well, it covered the opening of the on seven hills, like Rome. She noted rather than inventions. Whatever might new Fisher Gauge archives and rightly that Peterborough was more like a be said about invention, Peterborough historical facilities which opened with saucer; flat at the centre, and surrounded proved superior in developing a solid an exhibit in June. The Avro Arrow by drumlins. It is an interesting local industry. Ken developed this exhibit at the PCMA was also well- perspective, though not as funny. The information for museum exhibits. covered. The Canadian Canoe Museum images that we choose to depict the past is proving very popular since the can sometimes obscure as much as they Marjorie Rasmussen-Shephard has opening of nine new exhibits, and the illuminate. lovingly shared her memories of 20 introduction of new education features. paying jobs in 35 years, and 25 moves. We like to see the success of these Olga Dyer was, in the 1940s, the first She titled the book Moments in Time: heritage facilities. secretary of what became the United Way My Family “Picture Memories.” She in Peterborough. She also worked for has used pictures to organize her stories, The St John’s Parish Archives was many years in the sheriff’s office. Her and to jog her memory. It is a clever featured, 20 July, in a story about the papers, in the Trent Valley Archives, are book, and might serve as a model for church celebrating its 175th anniversary a great source of information about the others who wondered how to share their year. Archbishop Michael Peers is guest Sanderson and Tully families as well as memories with family and friends. preacher on 9 September. Elwood Jones her immediate family. In addition to However, not all will be as engaging as will talk about the Beck family and the interesting correspondence and cards, the this little gem. This very rare title is not history of St John’s on 21 October. papers contain interesting photographs being sold; instead, people gave and ephemera, including theatre bills and donations to Doctors without Borders. Prime Time’s long-running historical tickets, as well as the graduation materials column has featured some very linked to PCVS, and the Peterborough The Peterborough Examiner, 9 July interesting stories, and we also ran an Business College. 2001, had a very impressive article advertisement for three months to draw about the Trent Valley Archives written attention to our web-site and the Two of our first three covers featured by Sheryl Loucks entitled “Preserving Heritage Gazette. children from Mrs Dyer’s collection, and History ... Trent Valley Archives there are many other well-identified growing in leaps and bounds.” She had Don Barrie, a volunteer with the photos in the Dyer fonds. We are talked to Frank Schoales about his radio Peterborough and District Sports Hall preparing the finding aid to share that with collection, and the early days of CHEX of Fame, continues to write terrific our readers in a future issue. radio. She discussed some of the history articles on the history of local sport. On of the centennial school which is now 9 June, he discussed the emergence in Donations in memory of Mrs Dyer have known as the Fairview Heritage Centre. 1951of Peterborough as a lacrosse been received by the Trent Valley She talked about our new Computer centre. He ranged over the 1860s and Archives and will be used to purchase Access Program (CAP) site which will 1870s in a fine article on 21 July. archival materials to protect her papers. make the internet and computers accessible to many area people. She Congratulations to Don Willcock who She will be missed, and we send our talked about the early history of the was given a Peterborough Civic Award condolences to Bruce and Heather. She Trent Valley Archives, and its lobbying in June. The Heritage Gazette of the Trent Valley Volume 6, number 2, August 2001 33

and this photo appears to have been taken in connection with that trip. Trent Valley Archives Trent Valley Ancestral Research Heritage Gazette Your five counties archives centre of the Trent Valley Archives * Heritage * Genealogy Serving Peterborough, Victoria, Haliburton, Durham and Northumberland and area The Trent Valley Archives publishes the Research Room and Book Room Heritage Gazette, successor to the Trent Public access to internet Valley Archives News, as a forum for open 10-4 daily except Sunday celebrating history, family history, ancestral Owned and operated by volunteers research, genealogy, and archives in eastern with a love of history and families. central Ontario. The Trent Valley runs from Memberships only $40 a year. the Georgian Bay to the Bay of Quinte, and the historical Newcastle District runs from Visitors always welcome Cobourg to Haliburton. It is available only as a benefit of membership ($40 per year), and is FAIRVIEW HERITAGE published four times a year in May, August, CENTRE November and February. 567 Carnegie Avenue Peterborough ON K9L 1N1 We are interested in news, upcoming events, Turn at the zoo; 1.6 km stories about the past, present and future, family histories, great finds, upcoming events, and any efforts to make sense of the (705) 745-4404 [email protected] history of the area, or to preserve its archival www.trentvalleyarchives.com heritage. Some of the important items of continuing interest will be shared on our website. www.trentvalleyarchives.com Cover picture: When Lord Dufferin visited Blairton in summer of 1874 To contact the editor: We chose this photo for a variety of reasons. It is from Elwood Jones the Dyer fonds, and seemed an appropriate choice to [email protected] remember the late Olga Dyer. As well, it featured the (705) 743-0231 very nifty mark of James Little, one of Peterborough’s best photographers, and so complemented Fraser Dunford’s neat effort to identify the photographers of 19th century Peterborough and area. Not so evident to FAIRVIEW HERITAGE readers is the indelible pencil notation which we believe says, “August 1874. Compliments of Lt.G.’s Camping CENTRE party. per Bert.” Photos which can be placed in context 567 Carnegie Avenue are a great boon to historians. During the summer of Peterborough ON K9L 1N1 1874, the Governor-General of Canada, Lord Dufferin and his wife, visited Cobourg, Hastings and Blairton, The Heritage Gazette of the Trent Valley Volume 6, number 2, August 2001 34

(705) 745-4404 [email protected] Trent Valley Archives www.trentvalleyarchives.com Trent Valley Ancestral Research Heritage Gazette of the Trent Valley

Fairview Heritage Centre 567 Carnegie Avenue Peterborough ON K9L 1N1

(705) 745-4404 [email protected] www.trentvalleyarchives.com

Managers: Keith Dinsdale and Bill Amell

astounding, and we are proud to be where the action is. See you soon!

The Fairview Heritage Centre will be open six days a week during the summer. Come out and see what is new in ancestral research, local archives and the world wide web.

Fairview Heritage Centre There is always something happening at the Fairview Heritage Centre, so we hope to see you during the summer. Drop in for sure.

Our traditional anniversary weekend is the first weekend in June.

We are working hard on developing the descriptions and finding aids for our many archival and photographic collections. If you would like to help, just contact a member of the Board of Directors or drop by.

The Community Access Program is open to all members of the community. We expect to develop support for people interested in doing historical and genealogical research on the world wide web. The developments in this area have been The Heritage Gazette of the Trent Valley Volume 6, number 2, August 2001 35

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12.(1)"Emig. to Can. 1825"

13. (2)Rep. Emig. Comm. 1826, App.4, Robinson to Horton, 15 March 1826.

14.(2)Report of Emig. Comm. 1826, App.4, Robinson to Horton, Mar. 1826.

15.1)Report to Colonial Office "Emigration to Canada 1825" Pet.L.C.

16.(1)Stewart, p. 46.

17.(2)"Emigration to Canada 1825"

18.(3)C.O.42/380 and Series Q343 Can. Arch., J.B. Robinson to Horton, Jan.22,1826.

19.(1)J.B.Robinson to Horton, Jany. 1826.

20.(2)Mem. of Surgeons etc. P.L.C.

21.(3)"Emig. to Canada 1825"

22.(2)Mem. of Surgeons etc. P.L.C.

23.(3)"Emig. to Canada 1825"

24. Robinson to Horton, App 4, Emig Comm Rep, 1826 The Heritage Gazette of the Trent Valley Volume 6, number 2, August 2001 36

25.(3)"Emig. to Canada 1825"

26.(3)"Emig. to Canada 1825"

27.(4)Rob. to Horton, App.4, Emig. Comm. Rep. 1826.

28.(1)Statement of Provisions etc. by Quarters, Ont.Arch.

29.(2)Letter to Horton gave 120 miles, Report gave 100 miles.

30. Langton, “Early Days in Upper Canada” xxxviii

31. Report to Col Office, “Emigration to Canada 1825"

32.(2)Report to Col.Office "Emigration to Canada 1825".

33.(1)Traill "Backwoods of Canada" pp.89-93; "Pearls & Pebbles" p.xxiv

34.(2)Robinson's Report, and Letter to Horton

35.(3)Interview with Norman Edmison and wife, Smith township.

36.(1)Emig.Report 1826, App.7, p.298.

37.(2)Ibid, app.4, p. 286.

38.(3)Return of Emigrants 1825, and Statement of Provisions &c. by Quarters

39.(1)Distribution State of Emigrants March 1, 1826, Ont. Arch.

40.2)Traill, p.111.

41. (3)Smithson "How Peterboro Originated".

42.(1)Mulvaney, pp.262-5, following Smithson's tale which he quotes with NO acknowledgment.

43.(2)Stewart, pp. 47-8.

44.(3)Strickland, p.88.

45.(1)Poole, pp.15-6, and others; also attached sketches.

46.2)Stewart, pp.51-2.

47.(1)Smithson "How Peterboro Originated"

48.2)Series Q343, Can.Arch. Robinson to Hillier, Monaghan, Aug.25th,1825.

49.(1)Series Q 343, of dates above.

50.(1)Series Q343, of dates above. The Heritage Gazette of the Trent Valley Volume 6, number 2, August 2001 37

51.(1)Series Q343, of dates above.

52. (2)Series Q167,337,339, etc.

53.(1)Can.Arch.Series Q345,192,353,388, etc.

54.(1)Memoranda and Accounts of the Surgeons to Robinson, P.L.C.

55.(1)Memoranda and Accounts of the Surgeons to Robinson, P.L.C.

56.(1)Memoranda and Accounts of the Surgeons to Robinson, P.L.C.

57.(2)Land Patents of Peterborough County, Registrar's Office.