Yonge Street Quakers : the Story of "The Friends" in the Early Days of York County, Ontario

The Yonge Street Quakers ft I willplant in the wilderness Is. 41:19 THE STORY OF "THE FRIENDS' 1 IN THE EARLY DAYS OF YORK COUNTY, ONTARIO By Ethel Willson Trewhella ffI see you struggling in the wilderness, Wherefailure meant starvation, and success A cabin in the clearing, rough hewn, rude, Garments of homespun and the humblest food. PUBLISHED BY J M.WALTON, AURORA, The EDITH and LORNE PIERCE COLLECTION of CANADIANA Queens University at Kingston TO MY HUSBAND who inspired my work -THE AUTHOR- Introductory This account of the Yonge Street Quakers was prepared by Ethel Willson Trewhella, whose Quaker forbears came to York County, Upper Canada, in the early days. The subject is one in which the author has maintained a con- stant and devoted interest. Its preparation is a contribution to the annals of the people called "Quakers," who settled in York County in the early days of the last century, (1800-1840). The author had not anticipated the great interest which has been -manifested in the subject. So much discussion, reminiscence and interest have been aroused that it has been decided to pub- lish it in a more permanent form. This is done in the hope that it will create a new and deeper interest in the Friends, their lives and principles. That will be an ample reward to both the author and publisher. The part taken by the Friends in the pioneer settlements and their influence in the affairs of state, society and religious life is worthy of being known by all. The appendix compiled by the publisher is a concise, though incomplete, chronology that will ibe of interest and value to those whose wish it is to know more of the Religious Society of Friends, and it is hoped that it will stimulate an earnestness in the deeper study of the history of the Quakers and their beliefs. Aurora, Ontario, 29th day 9th month, 1937. "For when I came into the silent assemblies of God's people I felt a secret power among them which touched my heart; and as I gave way unto it, I found the evil weakening in me and the good raised up."—Robert Barclay, 1674. A SNOWY DAY (An incident witnessed by the author in the life of his aged father.) A Quaker sat in his big arm chair, With his grey locks clustering low, Looking anon through the window pane Where the storm beat wild o'er a pathless plain Of wind, of sleet, and of snow. The old clock ticked on the mantel shelf To the hearth-fire blazing warm, And he bowed his head in thoughtful mood And thought how great and wise and 1 good Is the One Who rules the storm. The storm beat on till the landscape looked Like the surf of a foaming sea, Then he raised his eyes with a smile and said, Though the storm beats wild and the world seems dead 'Tis a beautiful day to me. Oh, could we all when the storms of life Beat with a dreary sound, Leave all our cares and fears behind, And seek with a sincere heart and find The peace that the Quaker found. Athens, Ont. Ephraim Robeson. The Yonge Street Quakers By Ethel Willson Trewhella Looking backward at the pass- of the main arteries leading out ing of a war-torn century, and to of the little settlement of York the incoming of another laden on the banks of Lake Ontario, and with the allure of liberty and extending as far north as Lake possession, one is reminded of a aux Claies, now Lake Simcoe, so grey old mother as she stands named by Governor Simcoe in with feet upon a threshold which memory of his father, was the she may not cross, and with hand historic Yonge Street. One of the still in the clasp of much that very earliest roads in the province lies behind, she peers down the of Upper Canada, originally it glimmering vista to the land of was an Indian trail. promise in the young century of It received its name from Sir 1800, and points to the upward George Yonge, secretary of war, slogan, "Onward." the kal- Now in 1791, and in 1794 Governor eidoscopic scroll of more than a Simcoe ordered it made a bush century has unrolled since the road. It extended through dense, grey mother's eagle eyes scanned untracked forests of pine and ash the horizon to the north, and the and maple, and its depths re- now county of York in the then sounded to the howl of the wolf District, in the province of Home and secreted the prowling bear. Upper Canada, received its in- It was so rough that incoming flux of settlers from across the settlers were forced to take their border. canvas covered waggons apart The purchasing all this ter- of and drag the several sections up ritory from the Mississauga Indi- the steep hills by strong ropes ans, and known as the Toronto passed around the stems of Purchase, involved about 250,000 saplings. In 1828 it became a acres. stage route to Lake Simcoe, and After all these years a cloud in 1847 it was macadamized as far of picturesque romance crowns as Holland Landing. Now it is an this transaction. It was on Sep- ultra-modern highway, a throb- tember 23, 1787, that three In- bing artery pulsing with the dian chiefs met the government's enormous traffic of two countries, representative, Sir John Johnson and where now stretches the at the Carrying Place on the Bay unbroken panorama of beauty of Quinte, and bargained for all may be traced remnants of trans- this land. Eighteen years later, in actions, sites of pioneer settle- August, 1805 the government ments, primitive buildings that representatives again met with marked the beginnings of this the Indians on the bank of the vast new province, their histories River Credit. This time there hidden in old obscure documents, were eight Indian chiefs, and the or gradually becoming the story deed of purchase was confirmed. of tradition. In 1793 the opening up of this vast wilderness began one of the Sometimes the picture is so first active moves being the sur- magnificent that the more mod- veying and building of roads. One est links with a pregnant past lie Page 4 THE YONGE STREET QUAKERS forgotten in the pressure of mod- seemed to recall the mystic com- ern hurry. Though remote and munion of other far-off spring neglected they lie, still their es- gatherings in this quaint old tablishment as a beginning of meeting place of simple worship- civilization in the wilderness pers. It emphasized the realism stands as a symbol to the gener- that it has become but another ations, of the years that rang to of the historically interesting, the rhythm of the woodsman's though slowly disappearing axe, and which were planted shrines in the province of On- deeply with the first hopeful tario. It stands as a tangible link sowing of meagre corn. with the past early century, for It was to these people who it was the first building for wor- bravely faced the risks, and en- ship north of Toronto, or York. dured the hardships and priva- It was also the centre in the be- tions of pioneer immigration, and ginning of that which rapidly de- to this garden which they planted veloped into one of Ontario's in this wild Canadian bushland, thriftiest, wealthiest and most that our thoughts turned as we historic communities. luxuriously rolled along old And here, this sunny Sabbath Yonge street, to the Spring Meet- day, the air heavy with lilac and ing on the last Sabbath morning young hemlock, once again was in May. Reverently we recalled to be gathered a remnant of the the lines from Mrs. Hemans: descendants of those plain, fru- gal folk, who used to gather, in "The air was fraught oxen-drawn waggons, from the With noble memories, isolated clearings, to meet be- They that had toiled, watched, neath this sturdy roof for this struggled to secure quiet inward waiting upon God,, .... Worship, free and pure, and whose forefathers, while the Reigned there, the o'er-shadow- red man bivouacked within sight ing spirit of the scene." of its peaceful walls, had called A picture of entrancing spring to imagination no vision of this loveliness unfolded, that refresh- pressing and preoccupied age, as ed the eye and gladdened the it surges and beats within sound heart, as Mother Nature in one of the humble worshipper. of her happiest moods, thrilled The ancient Meeting House ap- anew to the miracle of resurrec- peared to radiate its welcome to tion, coaxing leaf and bud into the newcomers, companioning in beauty and fragrance, and woo- a wistful camaraderie with the ing one's thoughts to the har- new faces crossing its threshold, monious calm and benediction of communing with spirits of other a primitive Quaker Meeting far-off days—the gathering of the House that nestles among the young men and maidens, those trees a short distance out from in the middle activities of life, Newmarket, and in the heart of and the hoary crowns and knot- that which was once an almost ted hands of those, who in the wholly Quaker Settlement. glow of eventide, were nearing Brooding peace and a Sabbath the shadows—all names that an- stillness pervaded the silent acre, swer now but to memory's roll- and the bird's lilting song, and call. the rustling of tender leaves, .

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