Notes:

Died:
Main St. Aged 78y 9m 27d. D. Mitral Regurgitation.

Buried:
Cemetery. Monument M620.

Alexander married Mary Faber SCAFE on 26 Jun 1907 in Kent Co., Ontario. Mary was born in 1870 in Howard Twp., Kent Co., Ontario; died on 16 Aug 1936 in Ridgetown, Kent County, Ontario; was buried in Trinity Anglican Church, Howard, Ontario. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

First wife Sarah Elizabeth Newcomb dau. of Eliakim she died 1854.

. Second wife was Nancy Rushton, mother of James Rushton.

. Alexander is also the father of William, Charlotte L ( John McAffee), Hannah Marsh.

INTRODUCTION HISTORY OF THE SITE ƒ
The David Dunlap Observatory property is an area of 76.5 hectares (189 acres) bordered by Hillsview Drive to the north, Bayview Avenue to the east, 16th Avenue to the south & the CNR Bala Line rail tracks to the west. ƒ
The property was the site of a 19th-century farmstead owned by Alexander Marsh, comprised of a brick farmhouse, a lane from Yonge Street, agricultural fields with hedgerows & an orchard. ƒ
When its observatory in downtown Toronto became unworkable due to light pollution, the University of Toronto identified the site as appropriate for a new facility, and the land was purchased as a gift to the University by Jessie Donalda Dunlap, as a memorial to her husband, David Alexander Dunlap. The new Observatory, which opened in 1935, included a dome housing a 74-inch (1.88m) reflector telescope & an Administration Building with 3 smaller telescope domes. See Figure 1. The main telescope was the second largest in the world at the time, and remains the largest in Canada. From 1935 to the early 1970s, the Observatory was at the forefront of Canadian astronomical research. Its achievements included advances in radio astronomy & the first direct evidence that the star Cygnus X-1 was a black hole. - - -

Birth:
Alt Name: John Alexander Marsch.

Died:
Aged 77y 1m 26d. D. Mitral regurgitation for 5 y, coma 3 weeks.

Buried:
Large red granite Monument M620.

Alexander married Sarah Elizabeth NEWCOMB on 21 Dec 1831 in Ridgetown, Kent County, Ontario. Sarah was born in 1817 in Cornwallis, Kings Co., Nova Scotia; died on 16 Dec 1853 in Ridgetown, Kent County, Ontario; was buried in Trinity Anglican Church, Howard, Ontario. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Sarah is the daughter of Sarah Caulkins & Eliakiam Newcomb who died in Clear Creek, Howard Twp., Kent Co., Ontario.

Birth:


Died:
aged 36.

Notes:

William is the son of Anna Dearer, & Wm. Marsh, Sur., 1743 Westchester to 30.12.1830 Markham, Ontario.

Note to Researchers: Marsh Family is recorded here were Willson & Lawrence much neighborly interaction. Additionaly Wm. Marsh married Maj. Alexander Montgomery.III & Rebecca Willson (dau. of John Willson Jr).
. 1797, UCLPetition Misc. M, Petitioner desirous to build in the Town of York. Wm. Marsh. Rec. 17 Nov. 1797.
UCLPetition 303, M Leases, C2235, pgs. 1216-1234 To Lt. Gov. Maitland, Summary 18 pages!:
. UCLPetition 303, Lease, Petition of Wm Marsh the Younger, York Twp., Blacksmith, is a native of the then British Province of New York, has relied in this Province about 22 years [1797], has a wife & six children. Desires of obtaining a Lease of Lot 15, Con 3, York Twp. East Side of Yonge Street, a Clergy Reserve. Signed, Wm. Marsh Junr. [undated].

Ontario Land Registry North York Abstract Book 11
Lot 17, 1EYS
. 1801 Aug 10, Patent, Crown, to Jacob Comar, All 190 Acres
. 1812 Jun 11, Wm. Marsh, SENIOR, to Leonard Marsh, £100, South 95A.

. 1805 March - Inhabitants of York Township:
Wm. Marsh, 1 Man, 1 Woman, 2 Females Over 16, Total 4.
Wm. Marsh, Jun, 1 Man, 1 Woman, Total 2.

A Record of the Marks of Horn Cattle, Sheep & Swine. For the Inhabitants of the Townships of York:
. 1807 March 2nd, Wm. Marsh June. - A Slit in the under part o.f each ear close to the Head.
Ref: York, Upper Canada Minutes of Town Meetings, Toronto Ref. Library.

. 1809 July 22, Saturday, Town of York. Seneca Ketchum Path Master on Yonge Street appeared to prosecute the following Persons, for refusing & neglecting to perform their Statute Labour.
Thomas & Wm. Hill, Walter Moody, Geo. Dennison.
William Marsh Sen‘. was fined by the Court one Dollar & all expenses.

WAR of 1812
. 1812 Dec 29. Capt. Thos Ridout's Company: Alexr. Montgomery & Wm. Marsh, Joined 29th for relief of Fort York company.

. 1819 Jul 13 - York, to Peregrine Maitland: Petition, Wm. Marsh, Lot 14, 3rd Con, York Twp., On the said Lot he has been at an expense exceeding $2000 & had erected a complete grist mill in a short time but that having overflowed Clergy Reserve on Lot 15 on 20 or 30 acres, humbly prays that you Excellence in Council will grant him a Lease of said, Signed, Wm. Marsh, Jr.
The undersigned inhabitants of the several concessions adjoining state the great distress & harm will accuse to the industry in neighborhood show the mill be closed & stopped, Petition signed by 45 persons, including Wm. Allen, John & c & John Montgomery & A M Montgomery Senr., Abraham Johnson, STILLWILL WILLSON, Chas. C Lunt, Henry Mulholland.
Envelope: Received from himself 10 Nov 1819.

. 1819 Jul 19, York. I certify that by the Oath of Francis Brock Jur, & Ed Brock, York Twp. who examined the Clergy Reserve, L15, C1, York East of Young Street that there is no White Pine Trees on this lot fit for his Majestys Royal Navy. Thos. Merritt, Dept. S.G. of Wood, [res. St. Catharines-Niagara, Ontario].
. 1819 Nov 9, The M, York, I certify William Marsh, the Younger, York Twp., Blacksmith (son of Wm. Marsh of the same place, a soldier during the American Rebellion in his Majesty's Provincial Corps called Ragouts? Rangers) did take the Oath of Allegiance.

. 1819 Nov 19. Petition of James McMillan, York Twp., late Sergeant 89th Reg., He presented a Petition in Council for a Lease L15, C3 EYS. He represented the valuable mill site & his eligibly for actual settlement. A Report of having fine timber thereon fit of Majesty's Navy. Council referred to apply to Thomas Merritt of Niagara, Deputy Survey General of Woods, to inspect the same & mark whatever trees were fit for masting, to producing the Woods Certificate for Lease.
McMillan rode three times to Niagara to see Merritt. He was to select 2 men that understood the nature of mast timber to minutely inspect the Lot & to take an Oath before a magistrates to grant him a Certificate. He did hire 2 men. He was advised a personal inspection as being the mode of obtain the lease. In this present month of November the inspection was performed. The paid the fees for the above.
Your petitioner further begs to state the other patina William Marsh, being giving to industry was promised a lease. Marsh strenuously solicited him to permit him to build a milldam. Only backing water on part of the Reserve, but should by no means exceed 2 acres & to reenumerate McMillan by cutting with his sawmill all the lumber on the Lot. He also with many professions of grateful friendship. McMillan did grant him liberty to build a dam, little imaging that in act of kindness granted under such circumstances as would ever have been tortured to such a sense as to hem made the foundation, to wrest the whole Lot from your Petitioner & repay him with a business scarcely to be paralleled.
McMillan spent nearly a lapse of 5 years, a great part of which was spend in writing & traveling for that sole purpose & closing him $100. Having spent such a such of money & time, to be given to an unworthy person who expects by a coup de main in treachery to benefit himself & family at the expense of your Petitioner. Signed, James McMillan.
Envelope: Read In Council, 1 Dec 1819. Ordered that William Marshall is to appear & given reason why the Lease should not be reminded.
1919 Dec 15, In Council. William Marsh is to pay $20 for the use of Mr. McMillan's Disruption for a Lease.

. 1819 Nov 8 - Thos. Merritt, Deputy, Surveyor G. of Woods: Certify that I have examined Lot 15, Con 3, York EY & there is no masting on it fit for the Royal Navy.

. 1819 Nov 17, MINUTE: L15, C3, EYS, Petitions of Mulholland, McMillan & Marsh:
Mulholland, proprietor of adjacent Clergy Reserve Lot, refused as a [sail] masting Reserve.
Marsh exchange Mulholland's Lot for the purpose of erecting a Mill, & has erected one, which over flows about ten Acres of the Reserve.
McMillan petitions for Lease & obtained a discharge of masting Reserve. The Board was of the opinion that Marsh being in place of the first petition Mulholland, is best entitled to the Lease.

. 1819 Nov 30, at Navy House [Niagara-on-the-Lake], Henry Mulholland, Twp. of York, Certify I have not sold or promised to sell any right, claim or interest, deed Lease or promise whatsoever for L15, C3 EYS to Wm Marsh or any other persons.
. 1819 Dec 2, York, James McMillan, late Sergeant, 9th & Glengarry Regiments, wants a lease.
. 1819 Dec 15, In Council: Leased to Wm. Marsh the Younger, York Twp., Blacksmith, Lot Lot 15, Con 3 EYS, Rent commences 20 Dec 1819.
. 1819 Dec 15, In Council, Memorandum by J. Beikie: Wm. Marsh built a Mill on the adding Lot of Mr. McMillan's industry to obtain a Lease. Upon payment of $20 to Surveyor General. for use of James McMillan Description, plus rent from 25. Dec 1819 to 24 Jun 1824, FIVE YEARS at $7 for Survey.
Envelope: Received from himself 10 Nov 1819. Lot 15, Con 3, York Twp. Survey General's Report: Clergy Reserve marked Masting Piece TREES FIT FOR MASKING - 140 TO 150 FEET HIGH. This lot was applied for License by Henry Mulholland, repot 1305. Also James McMillan also applied for a Lease. No License has been issued. Signed, Thos. Redoubt, Survey General.
1819 Nov 10 Petition of Wm Marsh Jr, permission rescinded, also James McMillain rescinded 1819 Dec 1. - . -

. 1835, UCLPetition 70 M19, C2215, To Lt. Governor John Colborne, UC.
I take the liberty of addressing your Excellency at the request of the church & principal members of St. Johns church on Yonge Street, in the Township of York for the purpose of offering to the notice of your Excellence a House & 5 acres of land which whey considered would make a suitable residence for a Clergyman which they hope soon to obtain.
The property is desirably situated adding the said church with a frontage of 30 rods on Yonge Street. It is a new two story frame house 30 feet by 20 plastered & brought cast on the outside, easily to be enlarged if necessary. The upper rooms are not finished. There is a good big building behind used as a cow house & stable, also an orchard planted of an apple trees, £50 would be the house in good suitable condition but to make an addition to it put a suitable fence round it. The land & finish all off in a serviceable manner would require from £100 to £130.
I considered the property in its present state worth £350 which mount i am silage to take in wild land or am willing to have the price to be settled by complement judges. The house with a small portion of the land for a garden was rented the past year for £15.
Signed, Yonge Street, York, July 31 1835, William Marsh.
Envelope: In Council, 26 August, 1835.
In order to ascertain the expediency of the exchange proposed within, a representation should he made by the Memorialist church xx? signed, John Strachan*.
Communicated 31 August 1836.
Note: Bishop John Strachan, Anglican bishop, was also a member of the governing Council.
Envelope: 1836 Jun 9, Toronto, Petitioner came to this country 1828, with a recommendation to the late Lieut. Governor [Colborne] for service to the Indians at the Narrows of Lake Simcoe in opening roads. Gov. allow him to occupy Lot 13, Con 11 & 12, containing 250 acres.
In Council 13 June 1836. The Council cannot recommend a departure in this for the usual support by Petitioners, but they see no objection to a patent issued for one of the lots on payment of the purchase money. Communicated 16 June 1834.
Research & transcription by P J Ahlberg. Thank you. 2015.

. History of Bothwell, which is east of Petrolia, (Ontario Historical Plaque):
Plaque Location: Chatham. Main St. & Elm St.
In Bothwell, on the northeast corner of Main Street & Elm Street:

. 1851 George Brown, founder of the Toronto Globe & one of Canada's Fathers of Confederation, purchased about house in this vicinity. The Great Western Railway ran through his property in 1855 and that year a station and a post office were opened. He had the town plot of Bothwell surveyed and by 1857 Brown and others had established several industries. The new community prospered until affected by the general depression of 1857-58 but revived by 1861 when a local oil boom developed. Brown was thus able to sell his holdings in 1865-66 for well over $250,000. Bothwell became a town in 1866 with some 3,500 inhabitants. By 1868, however, the oil industry had faltered and only in recent years has the community resumed its growth.

. William Marsh's body is buried on the Marsh homestead. (In the Wheeler's Lumber yard, in the south corner is the burial place of Mr. Marsh.)

Verify this William Marsh:
. Hugh Van Nostrand: I have a copy of a transcribed letter from my GGG Grandmother Susan Marsh to her husband William Marsh who was at the time working up at Lake Simcoe.
She first writes about going to Mr. Shepard to borrow a barrel or half a barrel of flour and would pay him back in wheat but he could not because he wanted to make up as much as he could to send to Montreal. Followed by this she writes about Mr. Shepard the Tavern owner sending a load of wood to her. - - -

Died:
Verify.

Buried:
His body is buried on the Marsh homestead.

William married Sarah Louise MONTGOMERY on 29 Feb 1804 in St. James Anglican Cathedral. Sarah (daughter of Alexander MONTGOMERY, Jr., U.E, and Judith JUDA MYERS) was born on 31 May 1779 in Gagetown, Queens Co., New Brunswick; died on 31 May 1883 in Ridgetown, Kent County, Ontario; was buried in Trinity Anglican Church, Howard, Ontario. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Sarah Lockwood is the daughter of Gersham Lockwood & niece of Lord John Millington England.

. 1804 March 8, license, William Marsh & Sarah MontgomeryAt St. James Anglican Church, Toronto.

. Like the Marshs & Montgomerys they lived on Yonge St. Stillwell Willson was John Willson, Sr.'s second child. He was born June 2, 1793 & died May 23, 1863. When Mrs. [Sarah] Stillwell Wilson attended her sister Sarah Marsh's funeral in 1883, she was 88 years old.

Ref: The ancestors & descendants of F. A. Marsh & Ivy Crites: containing ancestors in America from 1620 to the present with the origins of some English & German ancestors as early as 1480. By William Robert Marsh. Pub 1990.

. 1812 Jan 3, Mrs. Sarah Rogers (Timothy) left Newmarket to go to York to get some things she wanted to begin build their house. As we rode this 24 miles she look pleasant & told her wishes, the next day attend to sell & buy. After Sarah & Rogers had been there a while, went 6 or 7 miles up Yonge Street to William Marsh's for his wife was her relations & they used us well; but my wife was taken poorly & complained of chills, then an ague & pain between her breast & side, & her old relations was very kind & also was Sally their daughter; & I won soon went to York & brought Dr. Aspinwall; & everything was done that man could do. We had 4 child at home. It being very cold I was overmuch fatigued in attending upon her. …She died Jan 17 at my own house in Pickering. They were Quakers. Ref: Timothy Rogers: An Autobiography, 1756-1866, published 1937, p32. - - -

Obituary 1883
Reach was reported of Mrs Sarah Marsh, of Ridgetown, aged 104. She had been born in New Brunswick where her family had fled following the US revolution, coming to Canada in 198. In 1823 her husband chopped down the first reed & built the first house in Ridgeown. Of 13 children, 4 sons & a daughter survived. She was a sister of John Montgomery at whose Toronto district tavern, William Lyons Mackenzie had rallied his forces in the 1837 rebellion. - - -

Birth:
Born on the George Farm, Gagetown.

Died:
ON. Death Reg: Widowed. 'Aged 106, no disease' except old age, of course!

Buried:
Buried on the slopes at Trinity. Ref: Ridgetown Women's Institute Papers.

Notes:

Alexander is the son of Sarah Lockwood, born 1736 in Greenwich, Conn. & Alexander Montgomery, born c. 1725 in Kilmore, Co. Monagham, Ireland.

. MEMORIAL OF ALEX MONTGOMERY JUNR, That he was taken prisoner when he was making his escape from among the Rebels at at the first, but made his escape with great difficulty & experience, got with the British Lines & afterwards was sen on an Expedition to penetrate within the Rebel Lines; taken taken prisoner & stripped naked of all his clothes, shoes, buckles, cash & suffered 18 months imprisonment & was almost famished with Hunger & Cold, served in keeping the Fort on Lloyds Neck 5 or 6 years from the time he was able to bear arms & have never relied one farthing from Govt. for all his Services & Sufferings.
Signed, Alexander Montgomery, Junr.

. An Account of Losses sustained by Alex. Montgomery Junr., late Spencer Town, Albany Co. & NY, but now Gage Town, NB:
. Real Estate left him & his brothers some underage by the LAST WILL of their honored grandfather, Gershom Locked, late Greenwich, Fairfield Co., Colony of Connecticut, deceased, recorded in court of Probate Lands, £150; Book Debs £8.10;
. In making his escape when he was taken Prisoner, they took his Cash, £16;
. Some time after remade his escape he got within the British Lines & was sent on Gov. Service to penetrate within Rebel Lines; was taken prisoner & stripped naked of all his clothes, case, shoe buckles. Total £110.
. & suffered 18 months imprisonment.

. 1787 Feb 15, Saint John. EVIDENCE ON CLAIM OF ALEX. MONTGOMERY JR., late of NY.
Alex. Montgomery Senr. says his son came here in Summer 1783 went up the River, now settled in Gage Town. He served with Colonel Upham & Colonel Hewlett on Lloyds Neck & on Expeditions in difficult Places almost all the War.
Witness says he had furnished them with money to carry him off within the British Lines.
His son is very ill with a swelling in his arm & could not come to Saint John's. Gersom Lockwoods, father of witness's wife left by Will a Lot of 10 Acres in Greenwich to witnesses's wife. She dying in his lifetime. He added a Codicil that it was to go amongst her children.
XRef: See wife Sarah Lockwood for references to her father's Will.

. CAPTAIN IVES(?), Sworn, speaking of Alexander & Archibald Montgomery they served with his knowledge, came very young to the Army, were very Loyal & good young lads.

. JAMES HAIT, Sworn, Remembers their both serving. They were very active & serviceable, the 2 Montgomery's were mentioned as excellent soldiers. Knew a man at Greenwich by the name of Gershom Lockwood, he was a man of some property.
Speaking of their bravery in boring a French vessel in the [Boston Sound], the number on board were double that of the assailants. The vessel was taken.
Ref: NY Evidence, Vol 25, Pages 316-321.

. UCLPetition 51, M Bundle 51, C2195: MISSING { & possibly misfiled UC Sundries.

. 1806 June 10th - Date when the Petition prepared in this office: Praying to be put upon UE List.
Ref: Upper Canada Sundries C4503, p920.

. 1806 Jul 10 - Alexander Montgomery, Praying to have his name entered on the UE List. It appearing from a document laid before the Council in 1803 & signed by the Chairman of the Court of General Sessions of Peace for Queens County, New Brunswick, that the Petitioner Alexander Montgomery was actually in that Province on 25 Jan, 1813. The Committee is precluded by the Petitioner not being present in this Province with the period prescribed in such cases, from recommending that his name shall be entered on the U.E. List thereof.

. A record of the Marks of Horn Cattle, Sheep & Swine. York Township:
1804 Oct 30th, Alexl. Montgomery - A hole in the near ear & a Nick in the under side of the off year.

. 1813 Apr 13 - York. Duncan Cameron, Esq. Chairman, Donald McLean Esq., Justices of our Lord the King assigned to Keep the Peace in the Home District, (York). The commission opened & read the Sheriff returned the Prescript. The Grand Jury were called & Sincerely sworn as follows as viz: 1. John Scarlet, Foreman 4. Martin Snyder 5. Samuel Heron 6. Robt. Marsh 8. Richard Lawrence. 11. Alexr. Montgomery 12. Jacob Coomer (Cummer) Cornelius Anderson 14. James Miles 15. John McAught 16. Henry Vanderburgh 17. James Foulton 18. Abraham Johnson (Yonge St. neighbors) Jury were charged by the Chair. Petty Jury adjourned 12 o'clock.
Ref: City of Toronto Archives, MS 251 Reel 1.

WAR of 1812
. 1812 Dec 29. Capt. Thos. Ridout's Company: Alexr. Montgomery & Wm. Marsh, Joined 29th for relief of Fort York company.
War of 1812, Muster 3rd Regiment of York Militia
Under Capt. Duncan Ridout: Private Alexander Montgomery.
1815 Jany 24, Alexr. Montgomery Jun, Two Holes in the left Ear near the center

* 1814 May 15, York Muster Day: Privates John & Alex Montgomery of Capt. Ridout's Company, who were captured at York on the 27th April, 1813. Signed. Lt Col. W. Chewett, 3 Yk Militia, 1814.5.15.
Note2: It is not apparent if this is the senior or junior Alexander Montgomery. Also present in Ridouts Company were Richard Heron, Jos. & Thos. Johnson, John Willson, Jr, Jos. Shepard, Wm. Hill, Saml. Finch, James Everson, Danl. Cummer, Wm. Hollinshead. - PJA.

1814 May 28, York. Appointed Alexander Miontgomery Junior as Constable.

A Record of the Marks of Horn Cattle, Sheep & Swine. For the Inhabitants of the Townships of York:
. 1816 - Alexr. Montgomery Jun, Two Holes in the left Ear near the center.
Ref: York, Upper Canada Minutes of Town Meetings, Toronto Ref. Library.

. UCLPetition 204, M Bundle 14, p746, C2206.
To Sir Pergrine Maitland, Petitioner Alexander Montgomery, Junior, York Twp., yeoman, native of New Brunswick, Son of Alexander Montgomery of Yonge Street who removed to this Province from NB upwards of 20 years ago [1804.] He has a wife & 5 children, (3 Boys & 2 girls); served in Militia during the late War, taken the Oath of Allegiance. That being of ability & delirious to improve a location of case lands.
Signed, Alexander Montgomery, Jur, York 24th Nov, 1824.
In Council 24 Nov 1824, Recommended as a settler for 200 Acres. WDP. Order issued 27 Nov., 1824.

. 1832 Jan 2 - A spectacular phenomenon or pageant in the streets of York, on connected with the troubles of the time, must be mentioned. It was a demonstration to celebrate the second return of Mr. Mackenzie, after expulsion adopted description given by himself in his Sketches. A procession was formed at the Red Lion Inn, on Yonge Street [near Bloor St.] - Price's or Daniel Tier's [Beef Steak & Beer House] where the hustings [events] were.
In front of it was an immense sleigh belonging to Mr. Montgomery, which was drawn by 4 horses, carried between 20 - 30 men & 2 or 3 Highland pipers. From 50 to 100 sleighs followed, & between 1 - 2000 of the inhabitants. The procession passed by the Government House, from thence to the Parliament House, thence to Mr. Cawthra's, & then to Mr. Mackenzie's own house, giving cheers at each of these places. One of the most singular curiosities of the day." it is added, was a little printing-press, placed on one of the sleighs, warmed by a furnace, on which a couple of boys continued, while moving through the streets, to strike off their New Year's Address, & throw it to the people. Over the press was hoisted a crimson flag, with the motto, 'The Liberty of the Press.'
On the apex of Mr. Montgomery's pyramidal sleuth, stood the hero of the day himself, wearing the golden chair & medal presented to him a free hours previously, at the Red Lion.
Ref: Memoirs of the four Decades of York, Upper Canada, Henry Sacking, 1880.

. 1843 November 17th - Dated this day, PURSUANT to a Degree of the Court of Chancery, made in a cause of Stillwell Willson & Wife, against John McIntosh, Richard Montgomery & others, the Creditors of Alexander Montgomery, late of the City of Toronto, Gentlemen, deceased (who died in or about the month of May in the year 1841,) are by their Solicitors, on or before the 15 Feb. next, to come forth in & prove their debts before John Godfrey Spragge, Esq., the Minister of the said Court, at his Chambers, In Toronto, or in default thereof, they will be excluded the benefit of the said Decree. J G Spragge.
Ref: The Canada Gazette, Pg. 1064. Notice repeated 10 Jan 1844.

Notes4: Upon Alexander's death in 1841 & his leaving his estate to several in family but the land was to go to Richard Montgomery. Stillwell & Statira Willson then brought a suit along with others in family against Richard & others concerned.

Toronto History:
. On July 30, 1793, Lieutenant-Governor Simcoe landed at Toronto Bay to supervise the planing of a garrison & town. Thus the arrival of the Montgomery family in 1798 (as well as the Marsh family) was not coincidental, but part of the general shift of population. In the fall of 1798 Alexander Jr., with his family, moved to Toronto, then known as Little York. Statira Montgomery Dodge, writing for her mother, Sarah Montgomery Marsh, claims that Alexander Montgomery Jr. was a good friend of the governor.

When the Montgomery's arrived, the town had approximately 250 people. Ironically, York was largely settled by Americans. Most of these Loyalist Americans settled in farming townships on Yonge Street.

The first record we have of the family is in1804 in March of that year their daughter, Sarah married William Marsh Jr., who was employed as a blacksmith in his father's shop on Yonge St.  
In 1812 Alexander & his son John managed to find themselves in the thick of the war with the Americans. At the time they were in Kingston bringing provisions by boat when they spotted the American invasion fleet. In an effort to warn Toronto of the impending invasion, John Montgomery along with his brother-in-law William Hill & other men began a forced march of 65 miles to reach the town before the enemy.
. 1813 April 27, a strong American force raided the town. The British retreated to Kingston & in the next few days the public buildings were looted & the Parliament Buildings were burned. Thus, records that might fill in the details of kinsman's life were lost.
. 1820 Alexander & his son, John, built a tavern on the east side of Yonge St. near Finch Ave. This was a two story frame building & it was called, the Bird in Hand".
. 1827 - A heated disagreement between father & son resulted in the building being cut in half, literally! From top to bottom & front to back, the building was sawed in half & John retained the southern half as an inn. The argument father & son had may have been political. Initially Alexander belonged to the old guard conservative faction &, John Montgomery became associated with the liberal left wing of the day. Later the 2 reconciled their differences but another son, Alexander III, split with the family over these disputes.

. 1837 Toronto City Directory, Taverns: Yonge Street Road, commencing new Montgomery's Tavern to the end of the Township, 1st Con. East & west, on Yonge Street
[i.e. before the Toll Gate at Montygomery's]:
Montgomery, Con 1, Lot 1.
Jacob Comer, Con 19, Thos Humberstone, C1, L11. Johnston, Richd. C1, L5; Lawrence Peter, C1, L7, Wm. Marsh, C1, L15, Thos. Sheppard, C1, L15. Watson, James, C1, L25.
Yonge East Side: Thos. Johnston, Con 3, L24, James Johnston C3, L23, Johnston John C3, L20.
Yonge West Side: Thos. Johnston, Con 3, Lot 22.

. 1803 - Lot 10, Con 2 ESide Yonge St, Alexander Montgomery. VERIFY WHICH ALEXANDER MONTGOMERY.

Ontario Land Registry Book 13, North York p65 :
Lot 22, Con 1 East Yonge Street,
. 1797 May 27, Patent, Crown, to Richard Lippincott, All 190 Acres.
. 1817 Jun 12, Bargain&Sale, Alfred Barret etux, to Alexander Montgomery, £400, All 190A.
. 1822 Mar 25,B&S, John Montgomery, to Alexander Montgomery, £200, All half share.
. 1827 Jan 15, B&S, Alex Montgomery etux, to John Montgomery Sr, £212, South 95A utility xxfaint ink.
. 1840 Jun 8, B&S, Alex Montgomery, to John W Montgomery, £1000, North half in al. [i.e. his son John Willson Montgomery - PJA 2018].
Note1: The use of senior or junior was sometimes used for those living at that time, rather than the father-son relationship. - PJA 2018.

Research & transcriptions by PJ Ahlberg, 2015-6. Thank you. - - -

Birth:

Alexander married Judith JUDA MYERS in 1779 in New York, New York. Judith was born on 24 May 1759 in Phillips Manor, Yonkers, Westchester, NYC; died on 16 Mar 1831 in Town of York (Toronto), Ontario; was buried in St. James Church. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Juda is the daughter of Rachel Spinning & Benjamin Myers, (b. Hungary, Landed Newport, RI.) They were members of the Jewish Synagogue in Newport RI.

. 1792 Sep 3 - Gagetown, Baptized by the Rev. Richard Clarke, children of Alexander & Juda Montgomery, on 3 Sep 1792, at Gagetown, NB.:
Abigail Montgomery, Alexander, John, Juda (Adult wife of Alexander Montgomery) & Sarah Montgomery.

. 1795 Sept 11, Baptized at Waterborugh, Mary Ann Tisdale, daughter of Alexander & Juda Montgomery,
. 1795 Sep 11, Slatira Montgomery, Baptized at Waterborugh, Mary Ann Tisdale, daughter of Alexander & Juda Montgomery,
. 1801 Aug 2, Juda Montgomery, son? of Baptized at Gagetown, daughter of Alexander & Juda Montgomery.
Ref: Wm. R. Marsh records O.G.S. & Marianne Grey Otty Database, NB.


. Lot 51, Con 1, Vaughan:
Richmond Hill's first settler, Balser Munshaw, originally settled the land, but abandoned it within a year. Barrister William B. Peters received Lot 51 in 1807. This was only a portion of the lands assigned to him. As well, his wife received 600 acres as wife of a barrister. By 1835 it had passed through the hands of Francis Jackson, Daniel Tiers, James Fleck, John S. Baldwin, Alexander Montgomery, & Aaron Munshaw to Hugh Stewart. Fleck operated an inn here in the 1820s. It may have been the same site upon which the original Elgin Mills hotel of Robert Bingham was located. The northwest corner, corner of Elgin Mills & Yonge Street also contained the Newton Tannery, Dickson's steam sawmill, Trench's blacksmith shop, & John Hamilton's cooperage.
Ref: Early Days in Richmond Hill, Robert M. Stamp, 1930.

"It should be pointed out that the Myers family, unlike most Jews during the Revolution, were Loyalists. During most of the war, Newport was occupied by the British troops & the Myers family was relatively safe. When the British evacuated Newport in fear of the Continental Army, the family, now under the care of the widow, Rachel, followed along. One document has her begging for provisions. The paper is signed by several British officers who had "mercy due to the largeness of her family."
Benjamin Jr. & his brother Abraham were exiled in New Brunswick along with their sister, Juda Myers Montgomery. The records are a little unclear but it seems that their mother & the younger children accompanied them. Eventually all of the Myers family returned to New York except, of course, Juda. Their mother, Rachel, died March 30, 1801, in New York."
Ref: North York Library, Canadian Room, History Files.

. 1805, Abigail Montgomery (1790-1855), daughter of Alexander Montgomery, & Judah Myers married at Anglican Church, York, to
William Hill, ca1781-1849, son of Thomas & Hannah Hill, Quakers. - - -

Birth:
Her father was Hungrian.

Buried:
Cemetery, Monument much faint, bears Jewish script & an angle on it.