American and British Isles Settlers in Western Quebec Compiled By: Jacques Gagné [email protected] 2015-09-07 1
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American and British Isles Settlers in Western Quebec Compiled by: Jacques Gagné [email protected] 2015-09-07 1 Hull sector The cradle of this region's European settlement, the Hull sector started in 1800—26 years before Bytown (Ottawa) was founded. The historical importance of the Outaouais' economic core is reflected in the richness of its industrial heritage, portrayed by the E. B. Eddy buildings (1883–1940), the Théâtre de l'Île (1889), the Château d'eau (1902–1910) and La Fonderie (1942–1943). Several historic homes are also part of these treasures, including the Charron (1827), Wright-Scott (circa 1855) and Fairview (circa 1862) houses, which will capture the hearts of heritage lovers. Chaudière Falls and E. B. Eddy buildings (Recognized as historic monuments by the government of Québec in 2001) Aboriginal people portaged the Ottawa River for thousands of years before Philemon Wright founded his settlement on this site in Hull Township at the beginning of the 19th century. It was here that legendary strongman Jos. Montferrand fought and routed 150 Shiners in 1829. The E. B. Eddy Company was established here, and its matches, sawmills and pulp and paper mills were a major factor in the Outaouais' economic development. The Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada has designated the Chaudière portage trail as a national historic site, and Philemon Wright and Ezra Butler Eddy as national historic persons. Some of the old E. B. Eddy buildings have been recognized as historic monuments by the government of Québec. Ruisseau de la Brasserie Sector (Municipal Heritage Site) The ruisseau de la Brasserie sector, known as Brewery Creek during the early settlement, has been a key industrial site in the Outaouais. Together with the Chaudière Falls sector, it constituted the city's industrial core during the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century. To this day, the shores of the creek, which defines the boundaries of île de Hull, are marked by several heritage industrial buildings: the Théâtre de l'Île (old pumping station), La Filature (Hanson Mills), the Château d'eau, and the Argentina Village heritage sector, the only 19th century architectural ensemble to have survived the Great Hull Fire of 1900. 2 Wright Scott House Historic Site 28, boulevard Alexandre-Taché (Recognized as a historic site by the government of Québec in 1979 and Municipal Heritage Site) This elegant stone house, surrounded by greenery, was built around 1855 on the original property of Philemon Wright. The Neo-Gothic style building was constructed for Philemon Ephraim Wright—grandson of the founder of Hull—whose sister, Nancy Louisa, is closely associated with the house's history. Married to John Scott, first Mayor of Ottawa, she raised her children in the house and lived there until her death in 1901. The house remained inhabited by her descendants and their heirs until 1963. The only historic site in the Outaouais to have been recognized by the government of Québec, the house and its exceptional grounds, located on the west shore of the ruisseau de la Brasserie, were so designated in 1979. This site now belongs to the National Capital Commission. 3 American and British Isles Settlers in Western Quebec An undisclosed number of families might have been descendants of Loyalists Ancient counties of Effingham, Ottawa, York One of the difficultés of creating such a guide is that different names are used for the same place at different times and religious denominations used different handles at different times. A good example of this is that at various times the Anglicans were called Episcopalians, Church of England, United Church of England and Ireland, and Anglicans. - Source: Doug Armstrong, QFHS Member The Laurentian Region Prior to 1792 - The Laurentian Region including Gatineau County was referred to as the Counties of Effingham, Leinster and York. 1829 - The name of York was changed to Ottawa County. 1853 – Pontiac was detached from Ottawa 1892 – Ottawa was divided into Labelle and Wright 1917 – Wright became Hull 1919 – Part of Hull became Papineau 1919 – Hull would join Gatineau Clarendon Township First settled in 1792 and centered in Shawville in the southern portion of Pontiac - Clarendon was formed prior to the establishment of Pontiac - The township of Clarendon is also referred to in various Protestant church documents as North Clarendon and South Clarendon Effingham County Established in 1792 as one of the original county with Leinster and York, which formed the Laurentian region - Effingham was bordered to the south by the township of Mille Iles, to the east by Leinster county, to the southwest by Arundel township and to the extreme west by York county (Gatineau - Pontiac - Hull - Papineau) Gatineau County A large county bordered to the west by Pontiac county, to the east by Papineau county, to the north by Labelle county - A portion of the county of Hull was added to the county of Gatineau in 4 the past - On September 4th, 1826 the Methodist Church of Upper Canada established a circuit in Western Quebec between the Ottawa and Gatineau Rivers in order to serve the township of Hull. Rev. Philander Smith was the first presiding minister, and Rev. George Bissell was the circuit preacher. The first chapel built in 1827 was located on Aylmer Road in the town of Wright's town (Hull). In 1858 a new Methodist church opened in Aylmer. During the 30 years following the founding of the Hull circuit, horse-riding preachers penetrated into the far reaches of the hinterland. Congregations were started by the early Hull (Aylmer) chapel in Chelsea, Ironside, Cantley, Templeton, Mountain View, Perry Schoolhouse, Zion (Upper Eardley), Centre Eardley, Brick Church and Lower Eardley. Seven of these original congregations existed in 1986. - Source: Betty Faris from a book entitled Oneness - The annals of the United Church in Aylmer and Eardley, Quebec 1943-86 Hull Township First settled in 1806 by Philemon Wright, it was first named Wrightstown, then Hull- In 1855, the townships of Hull, Templeton, Buckingham and Aylmer were formed as municipalities - In 1875, Hull is separated from the township of Hull to form the city of Hull - Please note that the township of Wright within the northern region of Gatineau county in a region referred to as Gatineau Valley is not the same as the original hamlet of Wrightstown. Labelle County An early county of the 1790's located north of Gatineau and Pontiac counties - The Anglo Protestant presence was limited within the confines of this northern region. Leinster County A large territory established prior to 1792 with those of Effingham and York, which formed the Laurentian region - Leinster was located between the counties of Warwick and Effingham, all three located north of Montréal Ottawa County (Québec). Ottawa County was established in 1829, it was actually located in Québec - It became in 1867 or about Hull, Pontiac, Gatineau counties and at a later time period the western portion of Papineau county (Buckingham, Lochaber, Templeton, Thurso, Gore region) Papineau County A county bounded to the west by Gatineau county, Argenteuil to the east, Labelle to the north - Papineau was the last to be incorporated in 1919 as a county from a portion of Hull county, the seigniory of Montebello and from the territory of Petite Nation - The latter name refers to a River by the same name on the Québec side of the Ottawa River in comparison to another River by the name Rivière Nation (South Nation), the latter located south of the Ottawa River within the township of Plantagenet and Alfred. From about 1830 or most likely prior, Protestant settlers within the county held their worship services in various homes and in the absence of a minister, the most literate person in the community would lead in the reading of scripture, hymn-singing and prayers. Burials were handled likewise, a simple service would be held, many of the 5 homesteads had family burial plots on top of a hill or a far corner of the land. In 1830 Rev. John Edwards, Baptist minister visited the Seigneurie of Petite-Nation (Papineauville), the church was organized on September 5th 1835 - In 1836 Rev. Alexander Fletcher of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Cumberland, Ontario performed the first known marriage of a couple who resided in Buckingham, the latter located across the Ottawa River from Clarence, Ontario - In 1837 at Kirkhill Lochiel in Glengarry township, Rev. George Bell from the same Presbyterian church in Cumberland baptized a child from a Buckingham couple - In 1853, Rev. G.M.W. Carey ministered to a few Baptist families in Thurso. In 1864 a Baptist chapel was erected in Thurso and some of the members from the Clarence Baptist Church, the latter located in Ontario across the Ottawa River would join the congregation of Thurso - In 1869, a Baptist church was erected in Buckingham, Rev. J.S. Ross and Rev. J. Higgins ministered to the settlers of Buckingham - In 1876, the Baptists opened a chapel in Mulgrave, Rev. G.G. Harrop, presiding - Saint Matthew's Evangelical Lutheran Church was established in 1878 and the first service was presided by Rev. August Senne. A chapel had been erected in the township of Mulgrave-Derry in 1873 - Saint Paul's Lutheran Church in Poltimore opened in 1879 - In 1880, the Presbyterians opened a chapel in East Templeton, Rev. James McEwen, presiding - Sources: Alice Biehler Burich and Marney MacDonald Parish of Clarendon The Anglican Parish of Clarendon was founded in 1843 by Bishop G.H. Mountain of Québec City. Anglican clergy from Hull had visited Clarendon from Hull as early as 1832. During the early years they were called to minister in Clarendon, but also in Quyon, Portage du Fort, Bryson, Bristol and others.