Rachel Jane McNames

Notes:

a Reverend
died age 40

Silas married Eurania Griffith in 1852. Eurania (daughter of Nathan Griffith* and Jane McAdam*) was born in 1833; died about 1925. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

born near Saratoga Springs, NY
"that I came into this province with my father" in 1804, settling in Oxford County (land grant document)
-a private in Carroll's Company, Oxford militia 1812
-a private in Curtis's Company, Oxford militia 1813
-donated land for the cemetery
McNames 2

In 1829 or 1830, William Allen
was shot by one Underwood in the swamp between Caradoc and Lobo.
It appears that Allen and William Vanmur stole a horse from Peter
McNames, of Brick street, and were pursued, when Underwood fired
and killed tlie horse-thief, leaving Vanmur to escape. At this time a
great number of horse and cattle thieves existed in Delaware, and in
later years some desperate characters resided there. [History of the county of Middlesex, Canada. From the earliest time to the present, and including a department devoted to the preservation of personal and private records, etc
. ]

Seth Dutton, a Lower Canadian, who was possibly of American origin, settled in the south half of lot 34. He too returned to the United States at the time of the War of 1812. Shortly after the war, however, he somehow managed to sell his location, comprising 12 acres of cleared land, to Peter McNames, who paid $200 for it." [Byron: Pioneer Days in Westminster Township, Guy St.-Denis]

"Peter McNames, possibly a brother to James McNames who settled on the north half of lot 37, was a post-war squatter. Shortly after the War of 1812 he had purchased the improvements of Seth Dutton on the south half of lot 34 in the first concession. These consisted of a barn and 12 acres of cleared land. Dutton was the original locatee who had been placed on the lot by Watson, but later returned to the United States during the war. McNames was himself a native of the United States who apparently resided in present-day Oxford County prior to their removal to the Byron area. It seems that Peter and James were possibly sons of Amos McNames who lived on lot 38 until he returned to the United States [!!??] After Peter took over Duton's improvements he constructed a house near the Commissioners' Road and continuied to clear the lot of trees up to the road, even though Dutton's location consisted only of the southern half.
Of course, on January 17, 1816, as noted Hungerford's sketch, the govenrment allowed Burtch the north part of this lot, ignorant of McNames' presence. On February 28 McNames brought the problem to the attention of the Executive Council in the form of a petition. In their report, which followed on March 5, the Council noted that it appeared as though Peter Teeple, Burtch's father-in-law, and thus likely Burthch himself, had known that McNames had a house on the lot when Burtch solicited the location. Prbably as a result, the Council recommended that the north half of the lot be confirmed to McNames and that Burtch be located on the south half, which he later surrendered. Consequently, on January 20, 1820 McNames was granted the lot where he probably continued to live for the remainder of his life. On November 30, 1853 McNames and his wife Rachel sold most of the farm to their son Silas C. McNames. The couple retained 20 acres on the east side of the lot. Later, on May 3, 1855 Silas McNames was allowed to purchase this parcel as well. On August 11 of the same year Peter McNames died.
Earlier, on April 3, 1824, McNames had sold seven-tenths of an acre situated in the north-east corner of his lot to George Jervis Goodhue. This small parcel of land, which fronted Commissioners' Road, was likely used in conjunction with Goodhue's other commercial interests on adjacent lot 33. It was there that Goodhue built his pioneer general store, which formed the nucleus for the development of commerce in the Byron area - and all Westminster for that matter.
In religion McNames was a staunch adherent to the Methodist Episcopal Church. On August 5, 1851 he sold to the Trustees of that congregation - Nathan Griffith, Ezra D. Griffith, Thomas Summers, Nelson Norton and Lucian L. McNames - one acre of ground on the Commessioners' Road to be used as a burial ground and the site of a church. The following year a church was built which first served the congregation for which it was originally intended and now serves as a place of worship for members of the Free Reform Church. There was no need to establish a cemetery as one had already existed there for some years. The History of the County of Middlesex claims that this cemetery was commecned on land belonging to both Peter McNames and James Shelden, which is a mistake. No part of the cemetery is situated on what was Shelden's location. Goodspeed also states that the cemetery was established in 1815. This could very well be true, as the earliest known burial took place only five years later, that of the infant Eliza Griffith who died June 16, 1819. The cemetery probably originated as the McNames family burial ground, a not uncommon beginning for graveyards in the days of the pineers. Over the years this cemetery, now known as the Brick street Cemetery, has provided the last resting place for many of the area's pioneers including Peter McNames himself." [Byron: Pioneer Days in Westminster Township - Guy St-Denis]

Peter married Rachel Curtis* in 1824. Rachel (daughter of Silas Curtis and Rachel) was born on 19 Dec 1786 in Warren, Litchfield, Connecticut; died on 01 Jan 1877. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

died age 92
Rachel's brother Silas arrived in Ontario in 1819 [G. Curnoe]

Notes:

Griffith 8
settled May, 1812 & served in Middlesex Flank Regiment, fought at Battle of Lundy's Lane; Wstmr town clerk; first brickyard w. brother Ezra; a founder of BS church; a reformer; 1st wife Amelia Sayles; 2nd wife Jane McAdam
-married to Amelia 1816 by Daniel Springer

GRIFFITH, Nathan, Pte., served under Captain Daniel Springer 1814, received Land Claim Certificate, Unit - Flank Company 1st Regiment Middlesex Militia, Vol 20, File 38, pages 1272-1273. Possible identification: born ca 1790 in United States, son of Nathan & Mary; died January 21, 1862 age 72; buried in Brick Street cemetery, London [Elgin OGS website]

[HCM, p. 1001]: Nathan Griffith (father of Mrs. Skuse), married Miss Jane McAdam, daughter of John and Ellen McAdam....[He] was in the battle of Lundy's Lane on the English side, as he had come to Westminster Township in the spring of 1812....Nathan Griffith, jr., made the first bridkyard in Middlesex County. It was on the 1st Concession. Mr. Griffith sold the first brick in London, and his yard was established in 1816.

Nathan married Jane McAdam* on 22 Feb 1826. Jane (daughter of John McAdam and Ellen McKenzie) was born in 1807 in Scotland; died on 10 Oct 1899. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

a sister of Alexandria McAdam, wife of Eli Griffith

Abraham married Maria Hoachdeel. [Group Sheet]

Silas married Rachel in 1784. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

enlisted in Continental Army 1776 in Baltimor, Private and Corporal, until 1783; 9 months ranging service Mohawk Valley; took part in the taking of Burgoyne and several engagements previous; he received a pension from the U.S. gov't from 1818 until his death. He and wife Mary moved from Vermont to Westminster in 1835 to join their children
Griffeth 9

born 1756 - probably the earliest birth of anyone at BSC

[HCM, p. 1001]: Nathan Griffith, sr. (grandfather of Mrs. Skuse), was a soldier in the American Revolution on the side of liberty, and received a pension from the American Government. ...Mr. Griffith, sr., resided in Vermont for some years after his son had moved to Canada, but finally took up his residence with his son.

Nathan married Mary*. was born about 1769; died on 22 Jun 1848. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Griffeth 7

Notes:

[HCM, p. 1001]: John McAdam was from the Lowlands of Scotland, and immigrated to London Township, Middlesex County, Ont., in 1819, on the 7th Concession, Lot 13, and there passed his last days.

John married Ellen McKenzie. Ellen was born in 1782 in Carsphairn, Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland; died in 1866. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

-original romance with William Mair was discouraged.
-married John McAdam 1802
-came to Canada with family after 1815; in London Tp by 1819
-walked to Niagara with oldest and youngest sons to meet William Mair who had immigrated to Lockport NY [deserted her family]
-had child with William, William Jr., 1827
- William Sr. died 1836
-Ellen returned to London Tp 1845; discovered John McAdam had died 1840; bought farm in Westminster L38 C1and sold it to her sons
-lived with daughter Jane Griffith
-buried in Melrose with husband John McAdam