William Blinn*

Notes:

Blinn
-a miller
-a school trustee
[HCM, p513]: William built the first street crossing, from Douglass & Moore's store to the old Mansion House, and delivered the first newspapers in London.
[HCM, p239]: William Blinn attended school in early years where the market house now stands, and later put in the first street crossing from Douglass & Warren's store to the point where the Manision House is.
[HCM, p736] William was born in Lowere Canada in 1823, and received a fair education on Market Square, where the Market now stands, and finished in Brick street school. He learned in early life the trade of a miller, and, in 1847, was united in marriage to Miss Flint, daughter of Robert and Hannah Flint. To Mr. and Mrs. Blinn have been born three children - Eliza M., Robert W. and William G......Mr. Blinn was engaged in milling at different places in the county for seventeen years, and for six of these years followed this occupation in Byron. In 1858 he bought his present farm, consisting of 225 acres of fine land on the 1st Concession, where he has since lived. Mr. Blinnis an upright, honorable gentleman, and has the respect of his fellowmen. He takes an active interest in all laudable enterprises, and has been School Trustee for twenty years. He is a Reformer in politics, and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Church, of which he is Steward. He is a self-made man in every respect, and has made all his property by his own labor.

William married Mary Flint* in 1847. Mary (daughter of Robert Flint* and Hannah Pirney*) was born in 1821 in Norfolk, England; died on 04 Apr 1898. [Group Sheet]

1. Eliza M. Blinn* was born in 1848; died on 23 Apr 1859.
2. Robert Warren Blinn* was born in 1849; died on 04 Oct 1938.
3. William George Blinn* was born in 1854; died on 09 Mar 1931.

Notes:

-age 1 when moved to Granby, Lower Canada from Vermont
-came to Middlesex Cy c1828
[HMC, p513]: Warren Blinn settled in London Township where the Asylum now stands [1889]
[HMC, p736]: Warren Blinn, father of [William], was also a native of Vermont, and was but one year old when he was brought by his parents to Lower Canada. He was of French descent on his father's side, and of English on his mother's side. He immigrated to Middlesex County when about twenty-nine years of age, and brought with him his wife and daughter, Eliza, and one son, William, ....who was then five years of age. Mr. blinn had married, in Lower canada, Miss Harriet Dyer, daughter of Edward and Elizabeth Dyer, whose sister, Lotta, married Capt. Butler, of Massachusetts, and became the mother of the eminent Gen. Benj. F. Butler, of the United States. Mr. and Mrs. Blinn became the parents of three children - William, Eliza and Hiram. Mr. Blinn first settled where the Insane Asylum now stands, and was a contractor by occupation, and also owned a mill. He was a member of the Baptist Church, and died in 1876, at the age of seventy-seven years. His wife died in 1882, at the age of 84.

Warren married Harriet Dyer. Harriet was born in 1798; died in 1882. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

-immigrated to Lower Canada c1800
[HCM, p736]: James Blinn, who was born in Vermont, in 1770, and emigrated to Lower Canada about 1800. He settled at Granby