Notes:

Michigan Reg. # 685. Horace Hamilton,
born 20 Dec. 1876, Saugatuck, Allegan Co., Mich., son of Alexander Hamilton of Canada and Sophia Hamilton.
Registered June 17 1877.

Lake Shore Commercial Paper, Saugatuck, Michigan.
28 AUG, 1885, Peach Tree Pick Ups - The enrollment of Peach Belt school for month ending Oct 9, was 25, of which number Harry Hamilton, were neither tardy nor absent. Miss Ella Barager is Teacher. - - -

Birth:
Single

Died:
Alt DOD 1937 Jul 15. Plot 13, lot 29, Sec 1, 3 NE 1/4.

Buried:
Tallahassee, Florida.

Notes:

Alexander Hamilton's in-law, John McCutcheon, farmed next lot to Alex, in Saugatack, 1870.

PART ONE, Canada:

. Alex's birth year conflicts with his brother Richard L Hamilton's verified DOB as 1836 APR 20th.*
Note1: As supported by Ontario Census of 1861, 1870 & 1881
& brother Richard Hamilton's Wellington County Death Certificate.
Saugatuck Allegan Co., Michigan, gives Alex's DOB as 1837.
"Though but eighteen years old, he assumed the care of the family' (1855 father dies, minus 18 years = born 1837).

Witness:
. This Certifies that the rite of Holy Matrimony was celebrated between
Richard Hamilton of Acton & Jane M McCutcheon of Erin Township
on Thursday Jane 24th, 1861 at Hugh McCutcheons
by Rev. Joseph Munsworth, Congregational Ministries, Georgetown.
Wit: Stewart McCutcheon, Alex Hamilton.
Ref: Bible of Jane Matilda McCutcheon Hamilton.

. 1861 March, Flamborough W Twp., Wentworth Co, Ontario, Canada:
Richard Hamilton, Age 26, b 1835, Carpenter, born Upper Canada, frame house 1.5 stories.
Alex Hamilton, Age 23, b 1838, Nursery Agent, born Upper Canada.

. 1870 Jun 25 Census, Saugatuck, Allegan Co., Michigan: Alexander 33 y/ 1837, B Canada, Nursery man; Sophia, 1846, Ohio & Blanche Hamilton, age 1, b Michigan.
. Sister Hadassah Hamilton McCutcheon & family live beside Alex Hamilton.
. 1880 Jun 24 - Saugatack, Allegan, 1910 Census Van Buren, MI., gives DOB 1837
. 1900 Census Van Burren, MI. gives DOB 1836 Oct. Date of emigration to Michigan remains consistent at 1864.
In the c.1895 photo, Richard & Alex appear to be a similar age, but not enough to say if Richard is actually the elder.

* Photo taken with Hamilton siblings at Erin, Ontario about 1895.

. Obituary: Dies after lingering illness
Alexander Hamilton formerly of this place & who lives in Ganges for a number of years before moving to Bangor, where he has resided ever since, died at his home, Monday Oct 10 & was buried from the house Wednesday of this week.
Mr. Hamilton was widely known as a a nurseryman & had many personal friends in this vicinity. He was born Oct 1, 1836 & his well lived life was an example to his neighbors wherever he lived. The large number of flowers sent & the crowds of friends who attended the funeral from far & near indicates the esteem in which he was held. The remains were laid to rest in the Arlington Cemetery at Bangor.

. 1985 Illustrated Atlas of Saugatuck, Allegan Co., Mich. shows A. Hamilton's property is beside his brother-in-law, Sam'l Wanner. 40 acres each, two concessions from Lake Michigan. The school house was situated on the neighbours connecting the backside of Alex Hamilton's property.

. 1910 May 6 - Acton, Ontario - Rev. T. Albert Moore, D.D. was undergoing treatment in the hospital a few weeks ago ... Dr. Moore is the fourth of Acton's sons, that we know of, to receive a coveted honor, thee of whom were at one time members of the same Sunday School class: Rev. Dr. Chas A Cook, of Spikane, Wash.; Rev. D. J. E. Farmer, of Dekalb, Illinois & himself. Rev. Dr. James Hamilton, of Grand Rapids, Mich., is the other. Perhaps there are more. The Free Press has much pleasure in extending hearty congratulations to its former editor.
Newspaper clipping with photo of T A Moore included.
Ref: Acton Free Press. Newspaper clipping was found in the Bible of Ella Hamilton Walker, the niece of of a James Hamilton. For a paper over a hundred years old, the clipping appears in excellent quality.

1892 BIOGRAPHY.2

. ALEXANDER HAMILTON. This gentleman is one of the influential & respected residents of Ganges Twp., Allegan County, residing on section 20. He is extensively engage in fruit-growing & the nursery business. He was born October 3, 1836, in Halton County, Canada, to James & Rebecca Hamilton.

Our subject began working out at the age of seventeen, at the death of his father.
Note2: If Alexander was born in 1836 + 17 years, means James Hamilton died 1853 (or more likely in 1854, owing to the conflict here of Alexander's date of birth. - PJA.

He was the oldest son at home & help to educate his younger brothers & sisters. He completed his own education after the age of 21 years [i.e. about 1857 or 1858.]

In 1864 he came to Michigan, locating at Benton Harbor on a small fruit farm, where he made good financial success, but lie a great many people in that city, he wanted to go West & after taking an extensive trip in different Western States, came to the conclusion that Michigan was a good enough State for him & so, in 1866, came back to this State & located in Allegan County; here he now resides.

Here Mr. Hamilton has given his attending to fruit-growing & the nursery business. He has been very successful in this line of of pursuits & has an orchard 1,000 trees now bearing. He raises annually 100,000 peach trees for market & until about 1880 all was raised on his farm in this county. The greater part of his nursery is now situated near Grand Rapids, Kent County. His largest sales are in this county & he sold one year 100,000 trees within a radius of ten miles of his own home. His trees & fruits are of the choicest varieties & he is visited by customers from all the counties around. He is well liked for square dealing & his genial manners & he has secured a competence as a result of personal industry & good judgement, put forth in a field wisely selected.

The original of this biography was married on 26th of May, 1868, to Miss Sophia Ensign. Mrs. Hamilton is a native of Ohio & one of 14 children born of Horace & Lucinda Ensign, natives of Massachusetts. Nine of this family are yet living. They are Caleb, Electa, Lysander, Sophia (Mrs. Hamilton), Cora, George, Hattie, Summer & Denning. Our subject & his amiable wife are parents of 5 children:
Blanche, the wife of A. G. Robinson, Maude, deceased, Alice, Harry & Willie.

The parents of this family are members of the County & Mrs. Hamilton is a member of the Congregationalist Church. In politics, Mr. Hamilton votes for the man he think best qualified for the position, irrespective of the party.
Ref: Portrait & biographical record of Kalamazoo, Allegan & Van Burren Counties, Michigan. Printed 1892, Chicago.

. 1864 Alex Hamilton had gone to (Ohio) & Michigan to work. Did Alex Hamilton visit with cousin Daniel T. Lawrence was then living in Ohio & who was also a tree farmer? - PJ Ahlberg 2013.

. Michigan Naturalization Records, Allan Co., Michigan, Box 1, Folio, Page 322 (*no date noted). *

. THE SAUGATUCK & GANGES POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY, 30 Sept 1871, at the village of Douglas, Alexander Hamilton - Director. In Mar 1880 Alex. was the again the Director of the Society.

. ILLUSTRATED ATLAS OF ALLEGAN CO. MICHIGAN, Published 1895) Ganges: PEACH BELT NURSERIES:
We make a speciality of growing healthy, hardy Peach Trees of the surest bearing & most profitable market varieties. We also have now growing in these nurseries of the best money-making kings, a large stock of Currant & Gooseberry plants, 2 year old Grape Vines, 2y old Asparagus Plants, nursery grown Blackberry & other Berry Plants. In addition to the above we can furnish in small quantities at bottom prices, a fine stock of young & thrifty apple, Pear, Plum & Cherry Trees. Call or address: A Hamilton, Ganges, or J C Maynard No. 156 W Bridge Street, Grand Rapids.

. 1855 several thousand baskets of peaches -mostly Crawfords - were being shipped to Chicago annually. The fruit was sold for three dollars per bushel; the peaches were then peddled by street vendors for ten cents each. The great Berrien County peach boom came to an end with refrigeration.
Ref: May/June 1993 issue of Michigan History. - . -

PART TWO, Michigan News:

. 1880 March The Saugatuck & Ganges Pomological Society
The society was organized Sep 30, 1871 at the Village of Douglas...2 western town of Allegan Co....Treasurer: Alexander Hamilton. The Charter members numbered 85.

. The Lake Shore Commercial Record Newspaper, for the Saugatuck-Douglas, Michigan Area, Pub. every Saturday morning:
1 Jun, 1882 - Dec. 31 Meeting of the Saugatuck & Ganges Pomological Society, Douglas, Masonic Hall. An essay will be found on the 5th P. of this paper from the pen of A Hamilton, on varieties of peaches to plant. It was read before the last meeting of the S G Pomological Society & is a most excellent article. ... Mr. Hamilton read a paper on varieties of peaches to plant, which caused considerable discussion & brought out some very desirable information. Summary of article:
When peaches are scare as they were this year, almost any kind / quality will sell at remunerative prices, but when they are plentiful as last year, only the very choicest will well: The most remarkable of these trees: The Reeks peach ripens with the Amsden & Alexander, a third larger, quite beautiful. The Ensfield peach ripens a few days after the Hale's Early: it does not rot as that variety usually does & has been shipped sound without any special attention year after year;
The Lewis Chili ripens between the Early Rivers & the Early Crawford. size & general outside appearance resembles the Hale, but the flesh is more sold & creamy white & parts from the pit freely. It is valued chiefly on account of its early ripening. The Bandle peach is very large, high colored, round, yellow peach, ripens a few days before the Early Crawford & sold last year for $3 a crate, other peaches were scarcely paying expenses. The Purday peach is a marvel of wonderful size, surpassing beauty & unequalled excellence & ripens a few days before the Late Crawfords. Last year $3 to $5 / basket, other good peaches were selling at 50¢ /basket. One tree yielded 25 baskets last year.

. 1882 Jan 27 - The essay read by Alex. Hamilton at the last S & G Pomological Society meting, which appeared in the COMMERCIAL soon after, has been republished in many of the leading papers of the state.
. 1882 Sept 29ch yielded him 176 Bushels. & still some farmers are discontented with their crop, Mr. H. however, is quite happy over his good fortune.

. 1883 Jul 22 - Pomological Society (Saugetuck & Ganges) meets last Saturday each month in Masonic Hall, Douglas. H Bird Jr. Sec. J F Taylor, Pres.
. 1884 Jan 11 - Saugatuck. Of the 30,000 peach trees grown & purchased by A. Hamilton, Peach Belt, 5,000 including 20 Kinds, are still for sale.
. 1884 Feb 22 - Mr. A. Hamilton is in receipt of some 5 bushels of Tenne? seed grown peach pits.
1884 May 16 - On the way to Mr. A. Hamilton's early Monday morning, we noticed that Dr. Brunson is putting up a new house on his farm in this twp.
. Peach Belt Clippings. A. Hamilton's trees arrived in good shape on Saturday evening.
1884 Sep 5 - Walter but Little Ahead.,- G W Wanner budded, at the Peach Belt Nursery, for A Hamilton, 26, 516 peach trees in 12 days of nine hours each, which would be an average of 2,455 for each ten hours work. The wood was taken out of buds & each one inserted as soon as removed form the stick of buds. Gilbert Desser did the tying. John Hones, a boy 14 years of age, put, 1,030 to 1,200 per day & did it nicely. Saugatuck township has made a good record this year & there are still 2 nurseries yet to be heard from.

. 1885 Feb 13 - Pomological Points. Feb. Meeting, re-elected A Hamilton.
. 1885 Apr 24 - Mr. Hamilton has returned from a business trip to the State of Ohio.
. 1885 May 5 - A. Hamilton, who has been at Johnsville for 3 weeks, returned home Tuesday.
. 1885 May 15 - Peach Belt Pick Ups, Frank Augustine went to Johnsville, Saturday to work Mr. Hamilton's farm three.
. 1885 Aug 28 - Jimmie Hamilton of Johnsville, is visiting his Uncle Alexander.

. 1886 Jan 29 - Alexander Hamilton, of Ganges, dropped in to shake hands with the printer this week.
. 1886 Feb 12 - Pomological Meeting, Douglas, Sat. Feb 6, at 2 p.m. Elected VP. A. Hamilton.

. 1890 Jan 17 - Alexander Hamilton visited Grand Rapids this week on purpose to confer wit the promoters of railroad from Gr to Benton harbor. Mr. Hamilton was told that the new company was disposed to favourably consider a crossing of the Kalamazoo R at Saugatuck, but the CL*MR had secured such land ...Mr H. was further informed that if the projected road was built that operations would begin not later than the first of next August.
. 1890 Feb 21 - Over a year ago Alexander Hamilton wrote the C&WMR in regard to building a side track from some point on their line into the peach section of Ganges Twp. He called their attention to the large shipments of fruit made each year from that section, but his letter was unheeded. Mr. Hamilton has lately rec. a replay indicating their willingness to favorable consider the side track matter. The people of Ganges, however, are not now to be waned from the the more important project of a lake shore Rd. by & by when the Grand Rapids & Lake Mich. Rd. gets in more practicable shape...

. 1890 Mar 17 - The people of Ganges have already begun the work of securing subscriptions to furnish the right of way for the GR & Lake Mich R. ...Alex Hamilton & Hutchinson were summed to GR this week to confer with those who have the project in hand. ... to cross the Kalamazoo River at Saugatuck ferry, Village of Douglas, then branch off to the S. 7 W through the Twp. of Ganges between the Hooter & Chase roads.

. 1891 Jan 23 Jan - S G Pomological Society, Masonic Hall, Douglas, last Sat., Elected A Hamilton VP for Ganges. Membership fee was fixed at 50 cents.
1891 Feb 13 - Peach Crop. AH, one of the big fruit men of Allegan Co., says there least 1,500,000 baskets of peaches now in sight in his section incase the buds all get through. He claims to have made a personal canvass of the big orchards.

. 1894 Jun 7, Muskegon, West Michigan, fruit Growers meet here Jun 14 -15. Executive committee consists of Walter Phillips, A. Hamilton. Afternoon Session, The cause of the decline in the price of fruit, by Alexander Hamilton, Ganges.

. 1894 Jun 14, Among the Fruit Growers R M Kellogg of Ionia says the prospects for fruit in that locality are very promising. Grand Rapids grapes were retarded by the frost, but not materially injured. Alex Hamilton of Ganges, Allegan County, is a large fruit grower in that locality. A. Hamilton stayed at the Wierengo Hotel, Muskegon.

. 1894 Jun 15 - "The cause of the decline - the price of fruit" appear red by Alex Hamilton of Ganges ... like other things, are usually cause by over production takes place when there is more produce than is required. Under consumption when times are hard & money is scarce & Common & poorer people are unable to purchase what fruit they need & pay a good price for it. At present a large portion of our people are unable to buy fruit.The western Michigan farmer cannot afford to buy peaches here at a pice that would afford us a profit while he is obliged to sell his wheat for 50¢ a bushel."
The low prices of farm products was given as one cause of low prices for fruits. The Legislation decreased the supply of paper & metallic money. ... The judge urged fruit growers of Mich. to plant potatoes to compete with the world. The speaker replied to Alex Hamilton of Ganges, who thought the judge had criticized his paper on the cause of fruit prices. One swallow doesn't bring summer, one one financial mismanagement is not the sole cause of our present depression.
Ref: Muskegon Chronicle Daily, published Jun 21,1894.

. 1895 Mar 7 - Grand Rapids, the West Michigan Fruit Growers Association elected as treasurer, A. Hamilton, of Ganges. Ref. Grand Rapids Herald.

. 1898 Feb 10 - Grand Rapids, Held at County building Feb 15-18, Long Fruit Institute of Farmers' instate assoc., Evening spearer A. Hamilton. Feb 18th: San Jose scale, whence it was brought in fruit shipments from Chile. Great effort were made to kill it. The only effective means was by fumigating the trees by covering them with tents & inflating the tents with certain deadly gases. The pest hen was noted in NJ. a Hamilton of Bangor said the Ganges & Naugatuck Pomological Society had condemned the Santa Jose Scale Law by resolutions.
Ref: Grand Rapids Herald.
. 1898 Jun 16 - Mich. Horticultural Society at the court house, Thus & Fri., Jun 23 -24: "Why I do not like the Mich. Scale Law & in what respects I would have it Amended" AH of Bangor.
Ref: Muskegon Chronicle.
. 1899 Aug 12 - Douglas, Mich. State Horticultural society were held her yesterday. Afternoon session, "How should our frozen orchards be treated?" Alexander Hamilton of Bangor.
Ref: Grand Rapids Herald.
. 1889 Dec 12 - State News: Alexander Hamilton the Peach Belt Nursery, Ganges, his just received from Green County, Tenn., a carload (459 bushels) of natural peach seed. This is the first carload of peach seed ever shipped into Michigan.
Ref: Muskegon Chronicle Newspaper: Jackson Citizen Patriot Newspaper

. 1900 Jun 21 - Newaygo July 11-12, Summer meeting of Mich. Sate Horticultural Society. Varieties of Peach Not Likely to Be Injured by Leaf Curl, A. Hamilton, Bangor. . - .

PART THREE:

. BIOGRAPHY.2 1912
A. Hamilton & Sons. The firm A. Hamilton & Sons is widely known & it is the proud privilege of Horace & William Hamilton not only to carry on the business which their father's enterprise created & made to flourish, but to have received from him a heritage beyond price in the memory of his spotless & kindly life & the influence of his nobility of character.

Alexander Hamilton was the second son of James & Rebecca (Lawrence) Hamilton, both of whom belonged to prominent families in Ireland & England, respectively, the former to the Scotch Irish branch of the Hamilton family, of whom the Duke of Abercorn is the head as far as titles & dignities are concerned, while the latter was the youngest daughter of Captain Richard Lawrence, related to the Lawrence-Townley-Widdrington families of England. Mr. Hamilton's grandfather above named was a United Empire Loyalist, which gave to him the same standing in Canada & England that our revolutionary sires have in this country; & the sons & daughters of the U.E.L. are as proud of their lineage as are the S.A.R. & D.A.R. of America.

James Hamilton, the father of Alexander, was born in County Tyrone, near Strabane, Ireland & came to Canada in 1828. Shortly after immigrating he was married to Rebecca Lawrence. In Ireland he had been engaged in linen weaving, but immediately on coming to Canada took up farming & later went into the real estate business. He was successful in both these ventures & might have become a wealthy man if he had not placed too much confidence in his friends & wreaked his own fortune by going security for others. At his death there was nothing left for his wife & family of 7 children, all of whom were under age.

It was in this crisis that Alexander Hamilton's sterling character made itself evident. Though but eighteen years old [1855], he assumed the care of the family & until the day of his death none of them ever went to him in vain for assistance of any sort. His devotion to his mother was particularly beautiful & even when the others were able to contribute to her comfort he never yielded his privilege of being the first to bear burdens in her behalf; & this even when hard times often made it difficult to provide for his own family as he wished.

Mr. Hamilton was 27 when he first came to Michigan in the spring of 1864, [= born 1837*] as he was born October 3, 1836, in Halton County, Ontario. Within a week of their arrival he & a friend (Lewis Williams) prepared to plant an orchard & nursery on a 20 acre plot of ground where the city of Benton Harbor now stands; but the price of land rose with remarkable rapidity, going from 80 to 200 & $50 per acre in a few months, so Mr. Hamilton decided to sell here & look elsewhere for a home & a suitable place for his proposed industry.

In December 1865 he went to Missouri but no liking that country soon returned to Michigan & in the spring of 1866 commenced in a small way the nursery & fruit growing business in western Allegan county. The demand for trees by local planters rapidly increased & in order to supply his growing trade Mr. Hamilton established branch nurseries at Hart, Grand Rapids, Schoolcraft & Kent City. In 1896, to be near a good shipping point, he moved to Van Buren county & settled just outside the corporation of Bangor. Here he developed the extensive business which was operated at the time of his death under the firm name of A. Hamilton & Sons. During the period of his business career Mr. Hamilton was instrumental in helping to organize the Saugatuck & Ganges Pomological Society & was also for years an active worker in the Western Michigan Horticultural Society. He had early realized the possibilities of the fruit industry in his section of the state & devoted himself to the development of the country, not merely to promote his own profit, but with the broad-minded intention of improving general conditions.

It was in 1866 that Mr. Hamilton made the acquaintance of the young lady who on May 26, 1868, became his wife. This was Miss Sophia C. Ensign, the daughter of a prosperous farmer living near Bryan, Ohio & at whose home the wedding was celebrated. The children of their union were Blanche A., Cecelia M., Alice R., Horace E. & William L., all of whom are living except Cecelia, who died in infancy.

It was Mr. Hamilton's privilege to successfully work out the plan of his life, but the competence he acquired for himself resulted in material prosperity for many others. It is a question, however, if even the impetus he gave to the valuable industry of fruit growers in this region can compare with the good he did by merely being what he was; a man with absolute integrity of soul, indomitable will, high courage & great patience, tempered by tenderness & humor; a man who exemplified the Golden Rule & made his life one lone "confession of faith."

Research & transcriptions by PJ Ahlberg. Thank you. - - -

Birth:
Mich. 1910 Census: 3 Oct. 1837. This seems to be correct. - PJA 2010

Died:
Aged 74y 0 months 8d. =1836. COD: Uremia with arterio-sclerosis. [i.e. Kidney failure.]

Buried:
Bangor, MI.

Alexander married Sophia CLARISSA ENSIGN on 25 May 1868 in Williams Center, Defiance Co., Ohio. Sophia (daughter of Horace Lyman ENSIGN and Lucinda CECILLIA PARKS) was born on 22 Oct 1845 in Rootstown, Portage Co., Ohio; died on 4 Aug 1935 in Tallahasee, Leon Co., Florida; was buried on 13 Oct 1910 in Arlington Hill Cemetery. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married at her father's house near Bryan, Ohio.

. 1860 Census, Farmer Twp., Defiance, Ohio
Sophia Ensign, age 42 b 1818, Massachusetts.

. 1900 June 11 Census. Sophia states 5 children, 4 living:
C Maude Hamilton, died 5 Dec 1874.

The Lake Shore Commercial Record Newspaper, for the Saugatuck-Douglas, Michigan Area, Pub. every Saturday morning:
. 1883 Jul 27 - Peach Belt Pick-Ups. Mrs. C. Ensign of Chicago, is visiting Mrs. Hamilton.
. 1883 Oct 5 - Peach Belt Pick-Ups. Miss Hattie E. Ensign, of Ohio, is the guest of her sister, Mrs. Hamilton.
. 1884 Sep 19 - Peach Belt Pick-Ups. Miss Hattie Ensign, of Ohio, is the guest of her sister, Mrs. Hamilton.
. 1884 May 29 - Mrs. Hamilton assisted at the Sabbath school organization Sunday.
. 1885 Sep 18 - Mr. Ensign of Ohio, is the guest of his daughter, Mrs. A. Hamilton.

. Obituary: Widow of Alexander
Mrs. Sophie Hamilton dies at the home of her son Harry at Tallahasee, Fla., Sunday, Aug. 4 after an illness of 2 months.
She was born Oct 22, 1846; the widow of Alexander Hamilton & lived in Ganges for several years before moving to Bangor where they lived from 1896 till 22 years ago they moved to Florida following Mr. Hamilton's death.
Those surviving are a daughter & 2 sons, Mrs. Blanche Robinson,
W L Hamilton of Bangor and
Harry of Florida,
Six grandchildren, 4 great grandchild, 1 sister and 3 brothers.
Funeral services were hale Aug 8, at Sherrod's chapel, Bangor, Rev. Harold Hamilton officiating. Burial was Arlington Hill Cemetery at Bangor. - - -

Birth:
(near Bryan, Ohio,)

Died:

Notes:

Married:
Alt Date 26 May 1868.

Notes:

PART ONE:

James Hamilton, born 23 June 1801, Baptized 28 Jan 1801, at Church of Ireland (Anglican), Drumragh Old Church, Blackfort Road, Drumragh Townland, Drumragh, County Tyrone.
Father James Hamilton, Mother not listed. (The graveyard is also called Drumragh Graveyard.)
. Strabane is situated in the civil parish of Donacavey. The relevant Church of Ireland, Anglican, records are divided between the following parishes: Bar, Clanabogan & Findonagh, or The relevant Presbyterian records are in Fintona.

. 1828 Jul 4, LANDED: James Hamilton, Steerage Passenger Ticket 46, Cost: £2 15s 6s, Paid.
Departure: Quebec, Lower Canada, Arrival Montreal, Lower Canada.
Vessel: St. Lawrence Steamship fee was 11th Tup. upwards.
Note1: Well not definitively verified that this is our James Hamilton, however, he is the only James Hamilton listed for 1828 (single, i.e. no wife or family accompanying him.)

. Hamilton J. H., in Canada Company's office, 4 Richmond St., [1833.]
. Hamilton James, Land Agent, King St. West [1837 Directory]
. & perhaps also: Hamilton, James, Camelion Tavern, Church St. Toronto
. (purchased:) Hamilton James, Con 4 Lots 4 & 5; Con 3, Lot 22, Chinquacousy Twp., E of Hurontario Street.

1837 Toronto & Home District Directory
. Tavernkeeper at George Third Inn, Town of York & Camelion Tavern 1837.
. Hamilton, Ja's, Con 4, Lot 4*, Chinguacousy, East of Hurontario Street
. Hamilton, James, Con 4, Lot 5, Chinguacousy East, Halton Co., Ontario
. Hamilton, James, Con 4, Lot 1, Chinguacousy East
. Hamilton, James, Con 3, Lot 22, Chinguacousy East.

Note2: * On the adjoining Lot 4, but in Con 3 was located Aeneas Shaw, Jr. - his father (Col.) Major A Shaw Senior, was an American Revolution acquaintance & gave reference for John Willson, the grandfather of Mrs. Rebecca Lawrence Hamilton'.
Previous owner C4 L4: The early tax assessment rolls (beginning in 1827) & the 1851 & 1861 census enumerations for Chinguacousy list several residents with "square lumber" & "plank" dwellings. This is evidence that plank construction was feasible during this early period. The James Forrest mill on Lot 4, Concession 4, WHS, is listed in the 1827 tax roll. It is not known if the Forrest mill or a more distant mill was in operation by 1822. If built by 1822 using sawn planks, the subject dwelling would be among the earliest examples of plank construction in the township.
Ref: Heritage Background Report - Plank Dwelling (LeFlarpland House), City of Brampton, 2012.9.77. for Lot 9, Con 4, Chinguacousy.

Note3: Now 12911 Creditview Rd., 1875, brick farm house. Ref: H54.3.
Address reference point: is now near Mayfair United Church. Originally the 3rd Line.
Lot W1/2 Lot 23, Con 3 is now & 13089 Creditview Rd.
Part E. half Lot 24, Con 4, # 13278 Creditview Rd., the Taylor - Eclin House)
Part E. half Lot 23, Con 4 is now # 1488 Old School Rd. near Mississauga Rd., the 1879 Sharpe Schoolhouse).

. 1840, Jul 16, Thus. - Heir & Devisee Claim 213
James Hamilton of Chinguacousy Twp. & William McConnell of the same place, yeoman, claims as executors in the WILL of James Hamilton, deceased.*
Lot East half 5, Con. 4 East of H. Street, Chinguacousy, Home District, Original Nominee James Hamilton, Claim allow.
Ref: Upper Canada Heir & Devisee, H1151, p202, Archives of Canada.
Note4* Perplexing!
This would seem to imply James Hamilton Senior was the executor of HIS father's will. No mention of is found in the two Hamilton biography's about his father accompanying him to Canada. It is a little too much of a co-incidence that our James Hamilton would live on the same Lot 5, Con 4 as another James Hamilton. Further research is required. - P J Ahlberg.

. 1852 Agricultural Census Chinguacousy Twp., Peel Co., Ontario
Hamilton, Con. 4, Lot 1, Chinguacousy, 100 Acres, 75 A. cultivated 43 A. under crops in 1851; 31 A under pasture 1851, 1 A. garden or orchard; 25 A under wild wood; 25 A. produced 400 bushels of wheat.
4 A. produced 80 Bsh peas; 4A. produced 150 bsh. oats; 10 Acres produced 15 tons of hay, 47 lbs. wool; 5 bulls, oxen or steers, 5 milch cows, 5 horses, 24 sheep, 4 pigs, 300 lbs. beef; 21 cwts. Pork.
> REMARKS on the January 1852 CENSUS, written by Allen Bowfield (b. c1825, also farmer in Chingoucousy.)
In reference to the soils: The nature of the soil will be best explained by stating that there are 2 kinds of land in the ward. The one may be called sandy loam. In the neighbourhood of which soil in a few cases most excellent building sand is founded. The sandy loam with sharp subsoil grows good wheat, barley & peas; The other goes by the name of clay land has a deep black top soil with heavy clay below. Grows first rate vegetables as good crops of hays & oats. Ward No. 2 is not as favourably situated for water as some localities. In many instances the farmer depends principally upon the well. The water of which is generally of superior quality. There are a few living streams. On one of which there is a grist mill. Incapable, however of doing must dry weather for want of bountiful supply of water. The average valve of land throughout the Ward is about £7 per acre.
Note5: - No Fulled cloth or linen or Flannel. i.e. James Hamilton no longer weaving.
. James Hamilton owned an high number of animals in comparison with most neighbors whose average was 2 bulls, 4 milk cows & double the number of sheep! These were likely raised for the market. Also indicates a dependable water supply. Not for nothing was James Hamilton a Canada Land Agent. - PJA 2011.

. 1877 Peel Co. Atlas
Richard Hamilton, Farmer, Settled 1831, Brampton Post office, 1877 [deeded from his father?]
Mrs. Hamilton, Con 2, NDS, Lot 11, 100 Acres, non-resident 1877, Non Resident;
Ada Hamilton, Con 4 E, Lot 2, Chinguacousy South, (now Peel Co.), 50 Acres, Non Resident.
Note6: By 1855 Transferred by his WILL: Richard Hamilton, Con 4 Lot 4, freeholder, Chinguacousy Twp. Halton. &
James Hamilton, Con 4, Lot 1, Chingoucousy Twp.;
John Hamilton, Con 4, Lot 5 also a John Hamilton Con 6, Lot 25 house. Chinguacousy Twp. [i.e. Caledon]
Note7: Concession 4 East is now located between Bramalea Rd. & Heart Lake Road, Peel Co., it was split in half, with the northern half becoming part of the town of Caledon & the southern half, along with the township of Toronto Gore, joining the town of Brampton. - PJA 2010.

PART TWO

. 1912 BIOGRAPHY

BIOGRAPHY1: James Hamilton, the father of Alexander Hamilton, was born in County Tyrone, near Strabane, Ireland & came to Canada in 1828. Shortly after emigrating he was married to Rebecca Lawrence. In Ireland he had been engaged in linen weaving, but immediately on coming to Canada took up farming & later went into the real estate business. He was successful in both these ventures & might have become a wealthy man if he had not placed too much confidence in his friends & wreaked his own fortune by going security for others. At his death there was nothing left for his wife & family of seven children, all of whom were under age.

For further research: In 1861 wife Rebecca Lawrence Hamilton was the toll keeper on the Snake Road, at Burlington. The toll house belong to the Hamilton & Milton Road Company. Did James have business dealings with the Hamilton & Milton Rd. Co.? - PJA.

. Summary: Hamilton & Flamborough Road Co. vs. Binkley for the recover of $10 toll paid by him. The plaintiffs' toll-gate being the only one on their Townline or Brock Road, 6 miles in length.
Hamilton & Brock Road Co. was incorporated 1853 Dec 5 to construct a plank, macadamized graveled road from the Upper Burlington Bridge at Freeman's Tavern on Brock Rd., between the Twps. of East & West Flamborough.' Later on 1867 Dec 9 they amalgamated with Hamilton, Waterdown & Carlise Rd. to be called the Hamilton Milton Road Co.
Ref: Ontario Reports, Vol. 9, Ontario High Court of Justice, 1885. . - .

PART THREE: 1892 BIOGRAPHY2:

ALEXANDER HAMILTON. This gentleman is one of the influential & respected residents of Ganges Twp., Allegan County, (Michigan) residing on section 20. He is extensively engage in fruit-growing & the nursery business. He was born October 3, 1836, in Halton County, Canada, to James & Rebecca Hamilton.

James Hamilton was born in the North of Ireland & was there reared to farm pursuits, his education being limited to the common schools. In early life, he learned the linen weaver's trade, but never followed his trade after coming to America, which was about 1828. He locate in Halton, Canada, where he was married to Rebecca Lawrence, a daughter of Capt. Richard Lawrence. Her father died when she was very young & she was reared by an older sister. Nine children were given to this couple, two of whom died when young.

Those living are Richard, of Canada,
Note8: He resided Acton - died Erin, Ontario;

Alexander, our subject;
Mary J., wife of Samuel Wanner;
Hadassah, widow of John McCutcheon;
Note9: John McCutcheon, born Ontario - died 28 Mar 1911.
The Rev. James, of Coldwater, Michigan, William J., of Canada & R. Lizzie.

Although James Hamilton lived on a farm in Canada, yet his general business was dealing in real estate. Both in Ireland & in Canada, he was a member of the Orangeman's Society. He died in 1858, his wife living until 1890. The parents of James Hamilton were James & Mary Hamilton, natives of the North of Ireland, but of Scotch descent.

Our subject began working out at the age of 17, at the death of his father.
Note10: If Alexander were born in 1836 + 17 years, means James Hamilton died 1853 (or more possibly in 1854, owing to the conflict of Alexander's date of birth.)

He was the oldest son at home & help to educate his younger brothers & sisters. He completed his own education after the age of 21 years (c.1857-8).
[More of this biography continues under this brother, Alexander Hamilton, 1892 Biography.]
Ref: Portrait & Biographical Record of Kalamazoo, Allegan & Van Buren Counties, Michigan. Printed 1892, Chicago, p. 728.

Linen Weaving in Ireland
The preparation of an acre of flax for the spinning wheel required 8 days' work, at different intervals, utilizing 4 men & 8 women & two horses. The profit resulting from an acre of flax land, sowing the crop & converting it at harvest into 11 webs of linen was about 6 pounds. It was the most expensive of all crops, particularly in wet seasons.
The making of linen in Ulster was a domestic industry, carried on in the country home & was organized within the family hierarchy. The father wove, did the marketing & any business associated with it & trained his sons when they were of an appropriate age. The men also did some supplementary farming or fishing, depending on the locality & circumstances. The mother looked after the house, spun the flax, taught the younger children to prepare it for her & in due course trained her daughters in her skills.
During the first half of the 19th century the greatest social problem in Ireland was the problem of poverty, as illustrated in Table 1. Large areas of land were under the control of landowners living in England. The average wage for farm laborers in Ireland was eight pence (8d) a day. This was only a fifth of what could be obtained in the United States & those without land began to seriously consider emigrating to the New World. 
Despite a persistent lobby of support, a major scheme for state-aided emigration was not attempted. A very modest experiment in 1823-5 (about 2,000 were sent to Canada at a cost to the government of over £20 a head) caused misgivings about the prohibitive costs of such schemes & in any case the increasing flow of voluntary emigration suggested that State intervention was not needed. Distressed weavers, particularly from Scotland & the north of England, were also assisted to settle in Canada. The average ocean voyage that season was about 45 days; some vessels took more than 60 days in crossing.
Ref: Ordinance Survey Memoirs of Ireland, Parishes of Co. Londonderry; & Ireland Before the Famine, G. O Tuathaigh. - - -

Birth:
Drumragh Parish, born 'near Strabane'. Alt Name: J H Hamilton.

Died:
Note: Two biographies give different death dates.

James married Rebecca LAWRENCE, DUE in c 1831-33 in Halton County, Ontario. Rebecca (daughter of Lieut. Richard LAWRENCE, , UE and Mary WILLSON, DUE) was born on 4 May 1815 in Town of York (Toronto), York Co., Ontario; died on 17 Feb 1890 in Ganges, Allegan Co., Michigan; was buried in Taylor Cemetery. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

. The 1892 Biography of Alexander Hamilton says his grandmother died when Rebecca was but young & she was raised by an older sister. The most like possibilities for the 'older sister' could be:

1. Elizabeth Lawrence Tarbox, living in 1821 at Caledon East, Peel Co. & fairly close to James Hamilton at his farm in Chinguagousy Twp., Peel; or is Rebecca was still in Toronto with:

2. Second eldest sister, Margaret Lawrence Johnston, who lived at 179 King St. East, Toronto, which is based on Richard Hamilton, Rebecca's eldest son's statement that he was born in Toronto. King St. was a principal street in Toronto, where indeed, James Hamilton would have done business with the Canada Land Company.

. DOB 1815; UCLP at age 18, Married c 1833, at about age 18; First child at c. 19 years old.

UCLBooks, 1833 Feb 7, Thursday, York Council Chamber, Present Peter Robinson, Geo. H. Parkland, Jos. Wells.
Rebecca Hamilton, Petition H179, Wife of James Hamilton of Toronto, Yeoman. Praying for a grant of 200 Acres of land, as the Daughter of the late Richard Lawrence, formerly of York, an U.E. Loyalist. Recommended.
Ref: UCLBook, C105 p 354. Note1: Rebecca was age 17y 9m 3d.

. Upper Canada Land Petition #179, 1818 Apr 14,
Patented: 1833 Jul 4: Lot 7, Con 18, Garafraxa Twp., [Gore District], Wellington Co., Ontario.
* [ later transferred to EAST Garafraxa Twp, in Dufferin Co.]
Witnesses to Oath of Rebecca Hamilton, Page 179a, C2052, Home District (Toronto),
We, D'Arcy Boulton the Quarter Chairman & Steven Washburn … Clerk of the Peace certify that Rebecca Hamilton personally appeared at the general quarter Sessions of the Peace in & for said Home District this day & is recognized by the Magistrate to be a Daughter of the late Richard Lawrence of the Township of Harwich in the Western District of London, formerly of the Twp. of York, deceased, who retained his Loyalty during the late war [1812] without suspicion of without suspicion of aiding or assisting the Enemy. Dated at the Court House of York (Toronto), the 28th day of February, 1833.

Quarterly Session of Peace, Home District:
. 1833 Feb 28, Thurs. Present D'Arcy Boulton Jun, Esq. Chairman, Grant Powell, Esq. JP, Clerk of Peace having reported to Court that the Grand Jury summoned them for 1 O'clock this day. Report of David Gibson, Surveyor of Hwys. granted. Rebecca Hamilton appeared in open-Court & was recognized to be the Daughter of the late Richard Lawrence, deceased, an United Empire Loyalist, whereupon a certificate was signed.

. 1834 Dec 19, UC Sundries, Petition of Rebecca & James Hamilton of the Twp. Nassagaweya,
Petitioner Rebecca Hamilton, the daughter of a UE Loyalist received a grant of Lot 7, Con 18, Garafraxa Twp.
Petitioners are residing & cultivating a lot of land in Nassagaweya Twp. , upon which he has nearly 40 Acres of improvement. In consequence of possessing this farm, they are from the distance of the grant, unable to quit their present residence & become occupiers of the Garafraxa Lot. Yet your petitioners part to allow a deed to be issued, upon the grounds they are already settlers in the very District in which the grant is, the value of the same is of importance to them, for the provision their family. Should it be the pleasure of your Excellency to grant them title, the land will be improved by having the power to let it on lease, otherwise your petitioners cannot occupy in person the Lot & will be subject for forfeiture.
Signed for Jas. & Rebecca Hamilton, City of Toronto, 29 Dec 1834, Tos. Talbot.
Envelope: Referred to Comm of Lands to report therein. 31 Dec 1834.
. Cannot be granted under present regulations.1835 Apr 8, John Robison, Com. of Crown Lands Office, Toronto. Forward the report.
Ref: UC Sundries C6884, p1279.
Note2: Lot 18 SW Con 7 was granted 1824.9.21 Patent to Ann Headly & the NE half patent was granted 1824.922 to Jesse Meredith.

. Land Registration Office Dufferin County,
Lot 7, Con 18, East Garafraxa Twp. Abstract Book B20, p42.
. 1836 Mar 11, Patent, crown to Rebecca Hamilton Hamilton, Rebecca.
. 1836 Jun 16, Registered 1836 Jun 29, BN&S, James Hamilton & his wife Rebecca Hamilton, to James Pattulo, 200 Acres.
. 1879 Mar 28, Bargain&Sale James & Robert A. Pattullo, to Kenneth Pattullo, [to both each]. All the timber on 10 acres with right of way.

Note3: Purchaser: James Pattullo. Others settlers began to arrive at an early period, doubtless sent forward by the enterprising Land Agent at York. In the autumn of 1820 Alexander Pattullo, native of Prestonpems, near Edinburg, but more recently a resident of Glasgow, arrived at Rockside, having left behind him his wife & family of 3 sons & 2 daughters, wile he spied out the land & prepared a home for them. In a letter from Paisley dated Apr 2, 1823 he stated that a young man James Pattullo who was about to emigrate to Canada & intended to settle in Caledon along with his father who had preceded him, offered to convey letters.
Ref: Rockside Pioneers.

. Biography: At James Hamilton's death there was nothing left for his wife & family of 7 children, all of whom were under age. It was in this crisis that Alexander Hamilton's sterling character made itself evident. Though but 18 years old, [1854 or 55], he assumed the care of the family & until the day of his death none of them ever went to him in vain for assistance of any sort. His devotion to his mother was particularly beautiful, & even when the others were able to contribute to her comfort he never yielded his privilege of being the first to bear burdens in her behalf; & this even when hard times often made it difficult to provide for his own family as he wished.
Husband James Hamilton died about 1856 to 1858. 'He might have become a wealthy man if he had not placed too much confidence in his friends & wreaked his own fortune by going security for others.' So this would have been a timely investment for him or the widow Rebecca Hamilton. Perhaps the tollgate didn't live up to expectations for development. In the meantime, son Rev. James Hamilton moved to Michigan & number of close relatives were also in Michigan too.
. Rev. James Hamilton, Jr. "God-fear mother dedicated him to the service of the pulpit before he was born" in Feb. 17, 1843, Trafalgar, Ontario. . -.

* XRef: This biography continues at 1892 & 1912 Biographies of Alexander Hamilton & at James Hamilton.

Note4: Husband James Hamilton died in 1855 probably in Esquesing Co., Halton County, Ontario. Rebecca had moved to Flamborough Twp., Wentworth County by the time son James Hamilton was baptized a Methodist.
By 1856 son Richard L Hamilton was living alone in a log cabin near Acton, Ontario. He was working as a carpenter, no doubt earning money to help support his family.
In 1864 Alex Hamilton went to Ohio & afterward to Michigan to make fruit farm to Saughatuck, MI. Mary Jane Hamilton landed in the US in 1866 so it would seem probably she would have lived with her mother Rebecca, at least up to that time.

. 1859 Flamborough West, Canada West., Tp. in Co. Wentworth. For office Post office see: Strabane.
Ref: The New World in 1859: Being the US & Canada.

. 1861 March Census, East Flamborough, Wentworth Co., Ontario, Broken Part Lot 14, 2nd East Concession,
Rebecca Hamilton, age 46, Toll House, W. Methodist, Widow, One half story frame house. *Family member ABSCENT on Census day.
Alex Hamilton, Age 23, b 1838, Nursery Agent, born Upper Canada, W. Methodist.
Richard Hamilton, Age 26, b 1835, Carpenter, born Upper Canada, frame house. *Family member ABSCENT on Census day.
Mary Jane Hamilton, Age 22 b1839, Labourer
Hadassah Hamilton, Age 19, 1842 UC [No occupation listed], *Family member ABSCENT on Census day.
James Hamilton, Age 17 b1844, Nursery Agent, attending school. *Family member ABSCENT on Census day.
Wm. J Hamilton, Age 15 b1846, Labourer, attending school.
Rebecca Hamilton, Age 7, b1854, attending school.

. Description of Flamborough tollhouse: Neighbor murdered previous to Rebecca Hamilton taking up the house which was: The tollhouse is quite a small room & the ceiling is very low & usually a lock was applied to the door. Woodrack rails, likely cedar, surrounded the tollhouse; there was plenty of room in the shanty to stoke a blow with the stick; a 6 o'clock sounded in neighboroughood! Undoubtedly there would be quite a bit of gossip about the tollhouse where Rebecca & family lived.

. 1857 Jan 29th, Extracted from a previous coroner's murder inquest that took place:
The day previous at a shan't on the New Waterdown road, near Burlington Heights, where John Lawry killed another man supposed to have gone to the shanty for the purpose of robbing awry of his money. Lawry is about 60 years of age & Hopkins near as old.
John Smith, a teamster, was going out to the woods for cordwood & was passing the toll gate about 6:30, Wednesday morning when the toll keeper called after him & his comrade that John Hopkins came to the tollhouse about an hour before daylight that he had a letter for the toll keeper who then let him in Hopkins had a stick in his hand about 4 feet 6 inches long such as used woodrack rails & made a blow at him the tollkeeper, John Lawry. There was a fierce encounter till he succeeded in getting the stick & gave Hopkins blows to the head. Witness saw no blood on the floor. The toll keeper wanted to send word to the Watertown police.
John Gilmour resided on the hill about 100 yards from the tollhouse. Half an hour after sunrise Lawry came up the hill & called there was a dead man there near the door. He went to the house where he was told the same story. Lawry looked wild & he was glad to get out of the house, he did not appear to be drunk. The tollhouse is quite a small room & the ceiling is very low. The deceased's cap & handkerchief were lying at his feet. Gilmour asked how the deceased fall. He finally said the fell on his back, but the witness could see from the head wounds he would fall on his side. He had struck him 5 or 6 times after he was down, knocked out 2 teeth & he was determined to rub out the marks.
Lawry was a nice man, a very quiet neighbor, Never saw either of them worse of liquor. Witness has frequently seen the deceased this winter, but never saw the muffling on his feet before; had seen the shawl tied on his head, as if to keep off the cold. There was plenty of room in the shanty to stoke a blow with the stick, but not much blood on the floor inside, measuring about 3 or 4 inch broad. The previous day Hopkins was in witnesses house said he had broke his axe & said he to go to Hamilton to borrow one.
Ann fully deposed she slept at her son-in-law Hopkins' house on Tuesday night. He was going to Hamilton to borrow one. Thinks Hopkins could be about Gilmour's when the 6 o'clock bell rang. Hopkins had worn rans on his feet sine the thaw. Dr. Ryall deposed the deceased's body had contusions on head, face, 2 on thumb, & extensive 5 fractures into the brain.
John Flynn deposed the deceased told him David Smoke proved to lend him an axe & would leave the axe or word at the tollhouse.
[No further followup found, but he did not do jail time as by the 1861 Census he is the toll keeper outside of Waterdown on what is now called Waterdown Road. Back in those days Snake Rd. was called the Waterdown Rd. or the road to Waterdown]
Ref: Toronto Globe & Mail Newspaper.

Note5: One can imagine the widow Rebecca Hamilton taking up residence in this toll house where the neighbors would no doubt remind her & her family of the infamous history of this toll house. Lock you doors!

GANGES, Michigan
. 1878 - Allegan is county seat, 3,000 inhabitants on the Kalamazoo river, 25 miles nw of Kalamazoo, 2 Grand Rapids railroads pass through Allegan. 3 flouring mills, 2 saw mills, 2 planning mills, 1 foundry & 1 woolen mill.
It is an excellent farming twp. & near the lake the land is devoted chiefly to the cultivation of peaches. In the spring of 1880 the number of peach trees reached 84,000, of which 30,000 were 445 years old over. The fruit of Ganges is mainly sent on the Chicago W Michigan Railroad. It was of her son Alexander Hamilton who started these very fruit trees. - PJA
Ref. Polk Michigan State Gazetteer.

. 1887 Michigan Crop Report, Ganges. Large meteor seen through the fog on evening of May 23, first appearing in the east. 45 degrees above the horizon, moving north. Optical phenomena, Ganges 2 May: Solar halos were observed (i.e. weather - planning forecast); Hails 31st May. This phenomena would have been much discussed in the neighbourhood. - PJA.]

. 1888 Jan 7, Benton Harbor. Mrs. John Teetzel died' Wednesday, aged 74 years.
. 1888 Jan 5, Mrs John Teetzel whose death was noted our least issue, left 7 children. Funeral will occur on Friday afternoon.
Mrs. Hamilton, of Peachville, Michigan, a sister of Mrs Teetzel, accompanied by her husband & son Alexander, arrived yesterday afternoon.
Note6: Rather than her late husband, it was her son Rev. James Hamilton, junior, along with Rebecca's other son Alexander Hamilton.) There are several 'Peachvilles' in Michigan. Allegan is the 'Peach Belt' growing area of Michigan. - PJA

. 1890 Michigan Death Registration:
Registration #1600, died 17 Feb 1890, widow, aged 74y 11 months, Ganges Twp., Allegan Co., Michigan.
[Born 17 Mar 1815, compared with her Monument date, equals born 4 May 1815. ] Cause of Death: Slow paralysis.
Born Canada, parents Mary & Richard Lawrence.
Note7: Rebecca Lawrence-Hamilton was living with daughter Mary Jane Wanner at the time of her death.

Transcripts & reach by PJ Ahlberg, U.E., Thank you. - - -

Birth:
Born Lot 25, Con 1 Yonge St., Toronto. Until 1818 her father was living in York/Toronto, ON.

Died:
COD: Slow paralysis. Aged 74y 11m. = 17 Mar 1815. Widowed. Dau. of Mary & Richard Lawrence.

Buried:
Ganges. 74y 9m 13d. 'Mother', Tall grey monument with wheat sheaves. "Hamilton"

Notes:

Married:

Notes:

Horace is the son of Orpan Deming and Dr. Caleb Waldhams Ensign of Dalton, Mass.

JOHN CHITTENDEN, MURDERER
. 1837 Sep 5 - John Chittenden, age 21/1816 married Sally Ann Filley, age 18/1818.
'The above interlineation was made at the request of John M Stevens.'

. 1850 Oct. Census, Randolph Twp., Portage Co.
John Chittenden, age 33, /1817 Ohio, Farmer; married to Sally A, age 31/1819, Conn.
1854, Apr 12, Wednesday - The little daughter of Mr. Ensign, of Rootstown, who was injured on the 22nd alt [i.e. March]., Mr. Chittenden, a crazy man, living in Randolph*, we regret to learn, died on Monday morning, after many days of suffering. Mr. Ensign is expected to recover.
Ref: Portage County Democrat Newspaper, Ravenna, Ohio.
Note: Lucina Ophra Ensign, b 1839 Mar 31 - 10 Apr 1854.

Warning, very graphic details follow.

. 1854 Apr 22, Sat . ATTEMPT OF A MANIC TO MURDER A FAMILY

A horrible tragedy was enacted at Rootstown, Ohio, on the 22nd ult. Notice of it has already been given in the city papers. A private letter from a witness of the scene, furnishes the following details:
It seems that Mr. Horace L Ensign, of Rootstown, had risen on the morning of 22nd & without dressing, was in the act of putting a stick of wood in the kitchen stove, when he was felled by a blow on his head Mr E was standing at the time near door that opened into the woodshed. The door was ajar & the blow as given from some person in the shed.
The correspondent says: Mr. Ensign saw no one, but placing his hands on each side of his head, he hastened through into his dining room, where his wife was; he exclaimed, "I am killed, someone has split my head open with an axe.' He then ran out to the door & cried murder. His wife seeing him bleeding & a gash on his head, just above & also back of the temple, shouted for help. Meantime the children were awakened & came running in; the eldest, a son of 16, on coming down stairs, opened the door leading to the woodshed, thinking his father was in there. On opening the door, the first object that he saw was a man with an uplifted axe, looking like a demon at him. He says: Caleb, what do you want of me? Caleb spring back & shut the door.
. By this time a neighbor came across the street & went to the woodhouse, when the manic addressed him by name, Donald Deming. - that is my name, he replied & continued he, 'John Chittenden, what are you doing with that axe? "I thirst for blood & blood I will have, 'said he. Mr. Deming tried to cool him down & after a few minutes succeeded in getting the axe. However, before he could get it away, Chittenden wrenched it from him.
. [Some of the children had been sent for help, even in their undress.] After loosing his hold upon the axe, Deming retreated to the dining room where Horace sat bleeding & his family around him frightened very much. Deming held the door from the dining room & hoped to keep him from that, but with the axe he shivered the door at once, when Mr. Deming exclaimed, 'run or your lives!'
By this time, another neighbor got there & on seeing what was going on, ran home to get his rifle, thinking it best to shoot the madman. Upon word being given to run, they all left as they thought & Deming shut the outer door, but Lucinda, their eldest daughter, 15 years old, stopped save a little brother 2 & half years old, who had been awakened by the breaking in of the door & had jumped from his bed on the floor & stood screaming from fright. She caught him in time to get her fingers pinched as Deming shut the door. She saw the wretch leap through the door, through where the upper panel had been broken. She called to them to have them open the door, but by this time she received a blow from he head of the axe, which felled her with the little one still in her arms.
Meanwhile Horace had presentment that some child still remained in the house, & had gone around to the back kitchen door & entered, passing into the dining room. There lay Lucinda weltering in her blood & as he supposed, dead. The outside door had been opened; Deming had opened it of the child when she called; Chittenden was in the act of splitting open Lucinda's head; Horace sprang across the dining room, seized the axe handle to avert the blow from J. Chitteneden, finding someone was behind him turned upon him, in the scuffle cut to the bone on the back of Horace's head. Upon that, Horace seized him by the throat & Deming by his leg & by a hard struggle they got him down, he still retaining the axe & Horace still choking him. By this time the woman had called the man back that had gone for his rifle. He came & with much difficulty wrenched the axe from him; (he only held it by one hand; they then got ropes & bound him. Horace was covered with blood & so was the floor.
After he secured, a messenger was posted to Ravenna for medical aid. The word flow like lightning & a general rush ensued. Horace's head was trepanned. His brain lay exposed during his struggle with the man. The pulsation could be seen, but the membrane was not broken. The inside of the bone that was taken off was 1.5 long by quarter inch wide. Upon the outside the bone was more than 2 inches long, besides 2 small pieces that were not measured. He to all appearances will survive, but poor Lucinda is in a very critical situation. The bones were so driven into the brain, that the surgeon thought it best not to do much for her, but her friends insisted upon trying. After 5 hours they proceeded to dress her wound. After pressing the scalp each way, they extracted 6 pieces of bone, some an inch & over. Several of them were nearly buried in the brain. Dr. Pratt extracted them, raising up the scull wherever it was depressed. About 2 spoonfuls of the brain escaped. She still lies in a very critical situation, with but a small hope of recovery.

This Chittenden belonged Randolph, the town south of this; has had fits from a child; & ugly tempered man naturally. Of late his friends have thought him deranged at times. The night previous to this attack, he had 3 keepers. He attempted to kill his brother.
His wife was directed to go about half an mile to a neighbor's to stay. In her hurry, in leaping a fence, she sprained her ankle. Of course, she crawled on her hands & knees & by so doing, she probably escaped death, for he broke loose from his keepers, & in pursuing her he passed very near her twice, but the night was dark & she being on the ground, he did not see her.
He left searching for her & went to a neighbor's, called for Mr. Mrs. Ward did not recognize his voice & replied to him that he had gone after John Chittenden. Well, said he with an oath, you shall go too. She then know his voice, watched the candle, & blew it out. Her 2 daughters were upstairs in bed. - She fled up the chamber stairs & held the door. He smashed in a window with a cudgel that he carried with him; he entered through the window, but could not find anyone. He took all the covers off the stove, threw fine about the room piled bed clothes & other things on the stove. He broke out 2 other windows, sash & all, made his exit through one of them. Mrs. Ward smiled the fire & with assistance of her daughters, extinguished it.
All the houses in his neighborhood bear marks of his visit. He eluded his pursuers till after he was taken at Horace's. He bragged that the had sent his pursuers on the wrong track. He know, he said, where they would to to look for him, but retook another road. They wanted to kill him, as he said, but said he, I fixed them; I thirst for blood & blood I'll have. I don't think he cared whose. There was no reason for his attack upon Horace; they never had any difficulty inter lives. I can't describe the scene, if I try. - From the Cleveland Plain Dealer, April 6.
Ref: Sunbury American Newspaper, Sunbury, Northumberland Co., PA. (This is the more complete copy); Daily Evening Star, DC, published 1854.4.19.

. 1860 Census, Randolph Twp., Ohio, John Chittenden, age 43/1817, PAUPER
& Sally A, age 41/1819, Mass., son Gideon Chittenden, age 21, Mason.

. 1886 Nov 29, Monday. Spirit Talk. A Public Test Seance in the People's Theater. Dr. H. F. Merrill of Connecticut, Delivers from large number of people who have passed to the Other Life, where ancient anecdotes appear to haver perennial Interest … the philosophy of Spiritualism. After the singing of a hymn by the Lyceum choir a brief invocation was delivered by Dr. Merrill of Hartford, O., much after the manner of Christian prayer. [& various testimonies] … Horace Ensign & Lucinda Ensign told how they were murdered by John Crittenden, a madman. …The shadows of Olafson & Nancy Wheeler were recognized by a gentleman from Geauga.
Ref: Plain Dealer Newspaper Cleveland, Ohio. Transcripts by PJ Ahlberg, 2016.

VERIFY IDENITY:

. 1859 Jan 4 - Advertisement, The undersigned, take pleasure in recommending to the public the PANORAMA OF SLAVERY
Exhibited by Rev. T Ross Gross. It was painted under the direction supervision of Mr. G, who sketched the scenes from his own experience & observation. It illustrates the mode of growing the staple, agricultural productions of the South & faithfully representing the characteristic of the Peculiar Institution.
Horace Ensign, Madison, Lake Co., Ohio, C. W. Ensign, M T Miller, E L Plimpton, MD, James Leedir, D B Rose, Joseph Davis.
Will be at the following places: Reselvania, Ohio, Tues. evening. Jan 2nd, Belfountain, O. Wed. Jan 4th, De Graff, O., Jan 14th, Sidney, O. Friday, Jan 6th.
Ref: Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, Newspaper.

. 1869 Nov 11, Thurs. - Died Ensign, In Madison, Ohio, November 7th Celeslia R Ensign, wife of Deacon Horace, aged 72 years /1797.
Ref: Cleveland Leader Newspaper, Cleveland, Ohio.

. 1880 Jun 23 - Commencement at Madison, Ohio,
The 5th annual Commencement of the Madison Public Schools took place Kellogg's Hall last ending. The following are the mass of the class of 1880, together with the subjects of their essays: Horace Ensign: The Cowardice of Crime.
Ref: Cleveland Leader Newspaper, published 1880 June 25, Friday.

. 1898 Sep 19, Monday, Ervine Franklin Ensign, Obituary
on Aug 29 at his home at Madison, Ohio, Ervine Franklin Ensign passed to the life beyond, Born July 13, 1829, ancestors served with distinction in the Revolutionary War,
His father, Deacon Horace Ensign, from Dalton, Mass., in 1812, located at Madsion. Devon Ensign body championed the cause of anti-slavery, at the cost of social ostracism, The home was a noted station on the underground railway.
At age of 9, EF Ensign participated in many an exciting skirmish with Southern slave gathered & helped many on his way to freedom. He was a deacon of the Congregational Church. Prior to 1885 he was engaged in mercantile business in Cleveland; a trustee of Ohio University.
EFE survived by his wife, daughter of Frances H, secretary of Ohio WCTU & son Horace Raynod, Minneapolis, Min.
Ref: Cleveland Leader Newspaper.
Transcriptions by PJ Ahlberg 2016. Thank you. - - -

Died:
Ohio Death Cert, Consumption, 1814-1896.11.8 at Evansport, Tiffin Twp, Defiance, Ohio.

Buried:
Defiance Co., Ohio

Horace married Lucinda CECILLIA PARKS on 16 Apr 1837 in Dalton, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Lucinda was born on 28 Aug 1815 in Dalton, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts; died on 19 Sep 1882 in Williams Center, Defiance Co., Ohio; was buried in Farmer Cemetery. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

. Census 1850, Newton, Ohio
Albert Fowler, age 35, Tinner,
wife Amelia I Towler, Age 33., Lucentia Ensign, age 52, b. Conn. / b. 1798.
& next family:

. E H Ensign, age 29, Tinner, b. Conn.
Lucina C Ensign, Age 22, born PA / b. 1828
Virginia Ensign, Age 4, b. Virginia
May Ensign, age 2, born Virginia.

. and next family, John A Ensign, age 31, Tinner, b. Conn,
wife Sarah P Ensign, age 30, b. Conn,
John P Ensign, age 7, b. Conn.
Lucy H Ensign, Age 4, born Ohio. = b. 1846 Ohio.

. Census 1850, Rootstown, Portage Co., Ohio
Horace L Ensign, M, 35, Massachusetts /born 1817.
Lucinca C Ensign, F, 34, Massachusetts, /born 1816,
Caleb A Ensign, M, 12, Ohio (Caleb Abijah Ensign, 1838-1931), Lucinda C Ensign, F, 11, Ohio /born 1839. (Lucinda Orpah Ensign, 1838-1854),
Mary C Ensign, F, 8, Ohio,
Electa M Ensign, F, 7y, Ohio,
Lysander H Ensign, M, 6, Ohio. (Horace Lysander Ensign 1844-1944),
Sophia C Ensign, F, 4, Ohio,
Oscar Ensign, M, 2 Ohio bon 1848,
Corintha E Ensign, F, age 0, born Ohio,
James A Hazen, M, 21 Ohio.

. and 2nd next family, David Barnand, 42, Farmer, B. Mass, wife Charlotte S, b 1939, Mass.
3rd next family, Donald Derning (Denning?), farmer, wife Royanna, born 45 Conn & children.
4th next family, ensign F Denning, Age 24, Harness, b. Conn., wife Pluma, b. Ohio
5th, Cephlas E Denning, age 40, Farmer, b. Mass, Wife Louisa, age 31, b. Ohio & children.

. Census 1870 June 23, Defiance Co., Farmer Twp., Ohio
Horace L Ensign, M, 55y, Massachusetts
Lucinda C Ensign F, 54y, Massachusetts
Electa M Ensign, F, 27y, Ohio (Electra Maria Ensign,1843.3.1 Rootstown-1932.1.9, Bryan, Williams, Ohio),
George H Ensign, M, 18y, Ohio. (Geo. Henry Ensign, 1851-1926)
Corintha E Ensign,F, 20y, Ohio. (Corinthia Elizabeth Ensign, 1849 & married Wm Stailey),
Hattie E Ensign, F, 17y, Ohio. (Harriet Eames Ensign, 1853 -1931.10.2 Bryan, Ohio),
Charles S Ensign, M ,14y, Ohio. (Chas. Summer Ensign, 1855.6.25 - 1953.1.7)
Giddeon D Ensign, age 12, Ohio .(Gideon Deming Ensign 1858- ).

. Obituary, Mrs Lucinda C Ensign
Died, Sept. 19th, 1882, near William Center, Mrs. Lucinda C. Ensign, 67 years of age. Mrs. Ensign was a native of western Mass., from which state, after her marriage with Horace L. Ensign, she came to Ohio, & resided at Rootstown, Portage county, until 1863, when, with her family, she came to Farmer township, her home at the time of her death. She was the mother of 14 children, none of whom survive her, & of 16 grandchildren.
Mrs. Ensign was a good woman in every relationship of life, a consistent member of the Congregational church for many years, & of Lost Creek Presbyterian church at the time of her death. She filled a large place in her own home circle, & outside of that circle was much esteemed by those who were best acquainted. Her funeral was attended at Williams Center, conducted by Rev. S. S. Hyde, & her burial was in the Farmer cemetery. The large number present at these services attested the estimation in which she was held in the community in which a large part of her life work was done."  - - -

Birth:

Notes:

James's son, James Hamilton, born c. 1801, was a flax weaver in Ireland. The family were also farming & surely must have grown flax also.

Recorded for further research:

. 1796 Irish Flax Growers
Flax Growers List of 1796, known officially as the Spinning Wheel Premium Entitlement List, or more commonly the Flax Growers Bounty List.
The Irish Linen Board published a list of nearly 60,000 individuals in 1796. Spinning wheels were awarded based on the number of acres planted. People who planted one acre were awarded 4 spinning wheels & those growing 5 acres were awarded a loom.

Hamilton, James, Aghaloo, Tyrone
Hamilton, James, Bodoney Upper Tyrone
Hamilton, James, Camus,Tyrone
Hamilton, James, Cappagh, Tyrone
Hamilton, James, Desertcreat, Tyrone
Hamilton, James, Donacavey, Tyrone
Hamilton, James, Donaghedy, Tyrone
Hamilton, James, Donacavey, Tyrone

Hamilton, Audrey, Drumragh Parish, 1 spinning wheel
Hamilton, John, Drumragh Parish, 4 spinning wheels
Hamilton, Martha, Drumagh Parish, 1 spinning wheel
A List of Persons to whom Premiums for sewing Flax-seed in the Year 1796 have been adjudged by the Trustees of the Linen Manufacture.

. "Pursuant to the Scheme offered by them for encouraging the Growth of Flax throughout the Kingdom, viz. 'To the Person who should sow between the 10th Day of March & the 1st Day of June 1796, with a sufficient Quantity of good sound Flax-seed, any Quantity of Land, well prepared & fit for the purpose, not less than 1 Acre -4 Spinning Wheels, - 3 Roods 3 Ditto, -2 Roods-2 Ditto, 1 Rood-1 Ditto. And to the Person who should sow in like Manner any Quantity of like Land, not less than 5 Acres, a Loom, or Wheels, Reels, or Hatchells to the Value of 50 Shillings & for every 5 Acres over & above the first 5 a like Premium.'
Every Person preferring Reels may have 2 of them in lieu of a Spinning Wheel.

. Spinning Wheel Premium Entitlement List, Flax Growers Bounty List - 1796:
In the 18th Century Ulster gained a worldwide reputation as a producer of fine linen, which is made from flax. From time to time, the Government introduced incentives to encourage more people to grow flax.

In 1796 the Irish Linen Board published a list of people who had received bounties for planting flax. This was known officially as the Spinning Wheel Premium Entitlement List, but was generally called the Flax Growers Bounty List. Only the name & civil parish of the beneficiary was recorded & there is no further detail available.

. Over 60,000 people in Ireland received incentives, of which over 40,000 were based in Ulster. Donegal & Tyrone had the highest number of recipients, reflecting the importance of flax in the local economy. People planting one acre of flax received 4 spinning wheels & those who planted 5 acres received a loom. Only the name, town & civil parish of the beneficiary was recorded & there is no further details available. The barony was listed instead of the parish in a few of the records. - - -

Birth:
Scotch descent.

Died:
Alt: 1778, Aged 93, b1778 Strabane. (Son James left for Canada 1824.)

James married Mrs. Mary HAMILTON, .1. Mrs. was born est 1779± in Northern Ireland; died est 1827± in Strabane, Tyrone Co., Ireland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:


Died:
(Son James left for Canada 1824.)

Notes:

PART ONE:

Richard is name after his grandfather, Richard Lawrence, Esq., [The Third, 1719-1726.] & in family remberances going back to Richard the Lionhearted.

. 1771 July 5, List of letters, remaining in the Post Office, Richard Lawrence, Shrewsbury.
Ref: NY Gazette.
. Richard Lawrence, Upper Freehold. Ref: Roster of the People of Revolutionary Monmouth County.

. 1783 New Brunswick, Chrineyonce Vanmater & (Lieut.) Richard Lawrence, UE. petitioned together for land in Prince William Co., NB.
Note1: This land grant adjacent to his brother John Lawrence, was not taken up because it had previous legal encumbrances. - PJA 2101.

. Richard Lawrence carried a English Bible giving his & siblings' birth dates. He must have carried this Bible with him at the end of the American Revolution & then to NB & finally to Upper Canada. The Bible was then given to his youngest child, Rebecca. Grandson Walter Hamilton is the last known owner of the Lawrence Bible.

. 1776 Jul 15, Letters Remaining in the Post Office, New York: Richard Lawrence, Staten Island. Ref: New-York Gazette & Weekly Mercury.

. OLD UNITED EMPIRE LOYALIST LISTS: Laurence, Richard, Home District, Loyalist from N. Brunswick. Ref: Appendix, Appendix B.

. 1776 MUSTER: Richard Lawrence:
. 1777 Feb - 24 Apr - Lawrence, Richard - Private, General Hospital (2 Richards) Muster roll of Capt. Wm. Gray's NYV. Lieut. 1st Co.
. 1777 Aug 24, - Private Richard Lawrence, 3rd Bat De Lancey's Brigrade, C1880,p1
. 1777 October 24 - Capt. Gilbert C Willett, 3rd Battalion of Oliver De Lacey, p. 28, at Long Island, #20, Richard Lawrence [Job" Tat? Host or Western? blurry]. {Ref C1880,p7)
. 1777 Dec 24, Priv. RL, 3Bat DeLancey's Brigrade, C12880,p16;
. 1778 Apr 24 - Rich. Lawrence, 3rd Bat. Oliver DeLacey. C1880, p22 & ?Compare Priv RL, NYV, C1874p5;
. 1778 Apr 24, Priv RL, #BDeLancey's Brigrade, C1880,p22, 38;
. 1778 Jun 24, Priv RL, 3BDeL, C12880,p28;
. 1778 Sep 4 - C1880, p38; 1778 Oct 24, c1880, p39;
. 1778 Dec 24, Priv RL, 3BDeL, - Discharged Dec 24th '78. C1880,p50.
. 1779 November 29, Capt. Thomas Hewlett's Co. NYV - Savannah, Quarter Masters Gen. Dept. & Hewlett's Coy. C1874p49;
. 1781 Apr, Priv RL, New York Volunteers, c1874,p60 & 1781.12.24 p82;
Ref: British Military & Naval Records, p49, RG8 Vol C, Printed, 1874. Elsewhere there is a UEL claim for supplies of horses & wagons for Trenton New Jersey.
Ref: British Military & Naval Records, C1880,p1, RG 8, C Series, & Copy Arch. Canada: Ward Chipman Muster.

British Headquarters Papers (Carleton Papers or American Manuscripts):
Richard Lawrence (31688)
. 1782.5.27, Account for Outstading debs for forage, New York, commissary General Dept., Doc 4668, Film M355, page 4668, Item 31688;
. 1783.11.21, List of Original Wills, Wills in custody of Secretary of NY, page 9671 (14); Film M366, Item 31689.

. NB Land Petitions:
* Note2: 1787 After the American Revolution four Lawrences lived near each other in Saint Johns, New Brunswick: Mrs. Alice Lawrence Leonard (Thomas) Lot 1; Lieut. John Lawrence Lot 101; Lieut. Richard Lawrence was on Lot 169 on the other side of the Saint John River; along with sister Mrs. Margaret Lawrence Nicholson (Arthur) at Lot 52. An important Lawrence family friend, Rev. J Odell of NJ, was adjacent to his land grant as well.

. Richard gave up his land claim in Prince William because of a prior legal entanglement by an earlier French Canadian inhabitant. Richard also made failed landed petitions with his Monmouth, New Jersey neighbours', Corneilis VanMater* & Capt. Richd. Lippincott, (BUT much later he would again be adjacent to R. Lippencott on Yonge St., Toronto) - PJ Ahlberg.
Note3: *John Vanmater was a witness to Richard's father, William Lawrence, d. 1795 in Middletown, NJ.

. 1782 May 27, Richard Lawrence, Outstanding Debts for Forage, New York, Accounts, Commissary General Dept., pg. 4668, (1.3).
Ref: British Headquarters Papers, (Carleton Papers or American Manuscripts), Microfilm M355, Ref: MG23 B1, Item Number 31688.

Research Item, (probably someone else, but should be verified):
. 1783.11.21 - Richard Lawrence, List of Original Wills, Document: Will in custody of Secretary of NY.
Document Pg. 9671 914), fonds: British Headquarters Papers, Carlton Papers or American Manuscripts, Microfilm M2369,
Ref: MG23 BA Item # 31689.

. 1783 DEC 12, PROVINCE OF NEW BRUNSWICK LAND GRANT, NB Archives. George the Third grant to Rev. James Fraser, Edward Rogers, Anthony Rogers, Arthur Nicholson, Esq., John Willson, Junior, Richard Lawrence, Stillwell Willson & James Walsh 2,238 acres on the northwest branch of the River Miramichi in the County of Northumberland. The first track beginning at the alder Stake on the easterly bank or shore of an Island being in the said Branch.
To John Willson Junior: Lot 1, 200 Acres; To Richard Lawrence the Lot 2 , containing 232 acres, Stillwell Willson, Lot 4, 240 acres. Registered the 12 December, 1793, Thomas Carlton, Lieutenant Governor, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada.

. 1789 Aug 11. To His Excellency Thomas Carlton. Province of New Brunswick, Memorial of Richard Lawrence of Miramichie,
Humbly Shewth, that our memorialist has been all the last War in the service of His King & Country, most of the time as a Volunteer in the Army. That a lott of Land has been assigned to him at Prince William in the County of York, but being then a young single man he resigned it. That he is now settled at Miramichie & likes the country, wishes to live by farming in reference to fishing.
Your Memorialist therefore prays you Excellency may be pleased to grant him a Lot of Land adjoining a lot assigned to Arthur Nicholson, Esq. on the north east side of the North West Branch of Miramichie & your memorialist is duty bound will Pray.
Richard Lawrence, [Undated, but delivery time about 4 - 6 weeks.]
Envelope side: Memorial of Richd. Lawrence - Complied with 25th Sept. 1789.

. 1795 June, there were still only 14 housed in the Town of York.

** See photo Photo Original Land Patent may be found at North York Central Library, Willowdale:
. UC Land Petition 5, Bundle, L Bundle 2, 1795 of York, Richard Lawrence, Sr.
Ref: C2124, p804. Ont. Archives. Original document is preserved at the North York Public Library, Yonge Street, Toronto. Very large parchment document with an attached was large beeswax seal.
*Researchers who had other relatives who received an UC Land Grant may wish to see what this very impressive document looked like. This also helps in part to understand why the administration of land granting was so slow.

. 1796 Apr 6 - To His Excellency John Graves Simcoe, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor & Commissioning his Majesty's forces in Upper Canada. Major General.
The Memorial of Richard Lawrence Late of the Province of New Brunswick in Nova Scotia That your Memorialist Entered in the Service of His Britannic Majesty at the beginning the Late rebellion continued in the same till the Peace of Eighty three & that since that time he accepted a Commission of first Lieutenant for the County of Northumberland in New Brunswick which he is ready to produce if required - & being Desirous of remaining a Subject to the King of Great Britain in this Province.
Humbly Prays that his Majesty's most gracious bounty in Lands may be Extended to your memorialist for the following Lotts Viz Number 25 on Yonge Street Eastward & 2 other Lotts in the Rear of Said Number 25 second Concession also a Lott in the Town of York, Number 18 in the second range Which he has improved as well as No 25 Yonge Street & such other quantity of Land as to your Excellency in your Wisdom may seem meet - & your Petitioner as in Duty Bound will ever pray. Signed, 6 April, 1796, Richard Lawrence.

There are 5 other Upper Canada Land Petitions for Richard Lawrence.
. The original parchment & seal, LAND GRANT for Lot 25, Concession 1 Yonge Street, east side, 200 Acres, will be found at the Canadian Room, North York Public Library, on Yonge Street, Toronto.
. 1796 July 30 - Granted Lot 18 D, Duke St., Town of York / [now renamed as: 79 Adelaide, Toronto.] (The next Lot 19 Duke, was granted to Samuel Osborn & his wife, Mrs. Alice Willson Osborn).
. 1802 May 5 Date of Patent or 18 Duke St., D Block, 1/5 Acre to Richard Lawrence.
Ref: Robertson's Landmarks of Toronto, Vol 1, p339.
. Lots 1 & 2, Con 4, Vaughan Twp., 400 Acres.
Note4: 1796 Oct. 8, is the day he paid his land settlement fees & is sometimes incorrectly quoted as the day he was FIRST granted this land. - PJA.

. UCLPetition 15, Y Batch 5, p417. -1801 Jul 16 - East Side Yonge St, Lot 25, Nothing done to the Street. [i.e. no logs cleared].

. 1801 Dec 15. East Side Yonge Street, Lot 25, Logs in the Street, not burnt.

. 1802 Feb. 21, Lot 1, Con 5, Vaughan Twp., 200 Acres granted to wife, Mary Willson Lawrence.
. 1803 Post Office Letters, downtown Toronto: This issue contains a list published by the postmaster of uncalled-for letters lying in the post-office at York:
. Richard Lawrence. (Original Toronto Post Office was one street over from Richard's 179 King Street house. However by
. 1803, Richard was now up on Yonge & Steeles.)
Ref: Vol XIL, The Oracle, Saturday Jan. 15, 1803, No. 28, Total No 610.
Note5: McGill had the 1000 Acres at Lot 25, Con 2, adjoining Richard Lawrence's Land Grant.

Ontario Lands Registry, Metro Toronto Book 683, p131 [Note: Version 2]
Lot 18, South side King St., Town of York
[Original Version 2 adds:] Abstract Town of York, S.S. King
St., Pt of Town Lot 18: Abstract of all Instruments affect 38.5 feet on South side of King St East x 120 feet deep coming at N.E.L. Town Lot 18 on South of King St & running West & being par t of sd. Town Lot 18.
. 1802 May 17, Patent, Crown, to Ricd Lawrence, All Contg. 1/5 Acre
. 1805 Feb 13, Patent, Crown, to Beasley et all, all condj 15 acre,
. 1805 Feb 19, Mem. Grant, Richd Beasley, survg. Trustee of Tos Barry & Wm. Allan, to Rev. Geo O'Kill Stuart of York, £321.17.16., All et all. Being 1 C in front X 2c deep. To hold unto sd. Grantee his heirs & assigne forever. Sg. by Grantee.

Abstract North York Book 16, p3
Lot 25, Con 1 Yonge Street East, York Twp.
. 1808 Sep 15, Patent, Crown, to Richard Lawrence, All 190 acres.
. 1806 Jan 20, Registered 20 Mar 1806, Bargain&Sale, Richard Lawrence et ux, to The B Gough, East Half.
. 1819 Aug 20, B&S, Richard Lawrence, to John S Baldwin, £250, West Half Acres.

Abstract, Metro Toronto, North York Book 128, p21
Lot 24, Con 2 West, York Twp.,
. 1798 Dec 31, Patent, Crown, to Wm. Jarvis, All 200 Acres
. 1805 Dec 31, B&S, Thos. B Gough, to Richard Lawrence, All 200 A
. 1809 May 1, B&S, Richard Lawrence, to Jacob Fisher Jr, £100, All 200 A.
Note6: Adjacent, Lot 23, Con 3, Sawmill, water badly supplied, Peter Keiffer, 1851.

Abstract Markham Book 91, p22
Lot 27, Con 1 East Side Yonge St. , Markham Twp.,
. 1803 July 15, Crown, to John Leslie, All 190A
. 1804 Aug 31, Bargain&Sale, Thos. McMichen etux, to Richard Lawrence, £100, All 190 Acres.
.1805 Jun 29, B&S, Richard Lawrence et ux, to John Arnold, £100, All 100A.
[Beside brothers-in-law, Wm. L Willson, Lot 26; Samuel Osborn Lot 27, & Stillwell Willson The Elder, Lot 30.]

Abstract York Region, Vaughan Book 185, p4
Lot 1, Con 3, Vaughan
. 1802 May 17, Patent, Crown, to Mary Lawrence, All 200 A
. 1821 Feb 21, B&S, Richard Lawrence et ux, to John Guthrie, £100, All.
[Near Fairbanks Lumber/ Railway tracks & Steeles W, 2020].-

Ontario Land Registry Abstract, Vaughan Book 190, p4 & 32,
Lots 1 & 2, Con 4, Vaughan Twp., York Co., [Keele Street], p4 & p32.
. 1805 Feb 1, Patent, Crown, to Richard Lawrence, All 400 Acres each [Lots1-2 @ 200A.]
. 1805 Feb 1, B&S, Richard Lawrence et al, to Thomas McMicking. All 190 A, 200 Acres for Lot 1. & Lot 2 190A.
Note7: Adjacent Lot 4, Con 3, was a sawmill, Michel Fisher, 1851.
Lawrence's most productive grant Lot 25 1ES was also part of the Willson sawmill land. Thus the summary suggest Lawrence searched for land that could yield water & tree resources, as opposed to strictly farm land. - P J Ahlberg 2016.

. 1805 to 1815 at least - Richard Lawrence received Tavern Licenses for the Twp. of York.
. March 1801, The Special Sessions of Peace, held the "The Court are of opinion that 6 persons are a sufficient number for Keeping Tavern in the Town of York, for the year ensuing.
. 1805 Dec 28, The undermentioned persons prayed to be admitted as fit persons for receiving Licenses to Keep Taverns in the Home District for the Year next ensuing: Richard Lawrence.
. 1806 Mar 20 - sells East ½ Lot 25, Con 1 ESYonge St.
. 1807 - Richard Lawrence owned Lot 18D, south side of King, west of Frederick St. Brother-in-law Sam. Osborn was on the next lot 19D.
Ref: Toronto Sundries, Home District. Quarter Sessions.

Special Sessions of the Peace, York, Tavern License for year ensuing,
. 1815 Dec 30, Town of York: Richard Lawrence, York Twp., Granted.

Note8: Various sources state the Joseph Abraham ran the first inn called the Green Bush at Steeles & Yonge at the North east corner. In an area noted for tall trees, it must have been a large balsam tree indeed that stood in front of the Inn. The NE corner belong to his brother-in-law Wm. L. Willson. Further research may show the exact location of Lawrence's tavern.

Regulations included: No excess drinking, no profanities or gambling; sufficient sheds, stables and/or barns were required for the patron's horses, carriages & wagons. The innkeeper should also have at least 4 good beds in addition to those for his family. All of these regulations were controls to limit taverns & increase inns.
Ref: Margaret McBurney & Mary Byers, Tavern in the Town: Early Inns & Taverns of Ontario. - P J Ahlberg). - . -

PART TWO: Tracking Richard Lawrence Though Documents:

. 1759 Aug. 20, Monday born, Middletown, Upper Freehold Twp., Monmouth Co., Prov. of New Jersey. Father William Lawrence's carpenter's shop along with his brothers.
. 1776 to 1783. American Revolution, New Jersey 1st Volunteers, Christies' Quarter Master Department. He was a volunteer in the army most of the time.
. 1776 Richard is on Staten Island, NY.
Note9: UCLPetition Richard gave a reference for Sarah Lakerman Willson who was on Staten Island since 1776, the beginning of the War & therefore, Richard Lawrence too was on Staten Island.

. 1785 New Brunswick. Purchased land at Musquash Island on the St. John's River from Capt. Richard Lippincott also of NJ.
. 1786 New Brunswick. By this time he is married to Mary Willson. [Further research: Records of the Anglican minister traveling though the Miramichi?]
. 1787 Jul 25, Wants land at Prince William, Queensborough, NB. allotted primarily to the Queen's American Rangers (& to future brother-in-law Arthur Nicholson, (ELIZABETH LAWRENCE).
. 1789 Jul 27, Land Grant: A little beyond the Sandy Point, opposite, Between Island by Johnston Basto, West Branch of Miramichi River, Northumberland County, New Brunswick.
. 1789 Sep 25 - Granted land at Willson's Point, Miramichi, New Brunswick. Richard builds log gaol at nearby, Newcastle, NB.

Northumberland Co., New Brunswick, Deed Registry Books, Grantor:
. 1793 June 15th - Richard Lawrence & Mary Lawrence to William Babcock, Vol 2, Pg. 97, Deed £20 for 200 Acres, 22 cleared with Stockable Dwelling House, 3 Commons Pasture. Signed, John Willson, Esq., JP of Inferior Court of Common Pleas.

. 1793 July - MAY FLEET *NJ *NY *NB *UC. Evacuation from NY to New Brunswick in 1783. Again the 'May Fleet' leaves around NB by ship & up the St. Lawrence River to Montreal, where John Willson called on Commissary Issac W Clarke for aid. The 60 people including Richd. Lawrence were in the party lead by John Willson, Esq.
. 1793 Aug 8 - Arrived at Quebec with 60 people. A dozen people remain here. Arrival by 3 bateaux at Kingston on 28 Aug., 1793. Received army rations & medical care. Detained over 30 days waiting for another boat. 1793 Oct. 10, group arrives at Niagara again sick & starved. 25 Oct, Governor J G Simcoe authorizes ship to pick up John Willson & associates.

. 1792 Sept. Fort George, Niagara. Lieut. Gov. Simcoe orders government ship to bring them Lawrence, Willson & all from Niagara to Town of York.
. 1793 Nov 2, Arrival at the Town of York, Toronto. Extracted from the documents on the hardships of this voyage to Upper Canada can be found also at 1) Roots.com under JOHN WILLSON.1 & 2.) more extensively in Richard Lawrence of NJ, NB & Ontario. Book may be found at North York Public Library, Toronto. & Richmond Hill Library - PJ Ahlberg, 2009.

. 1794 April 7 to 30 June, Paid for carpentry, Public Buildings at York. Paid £15 11 s. 3 pennies, on 10 July, 1794.
. 1795 June 1. Petitions for Lot 25, Con. 1 ES Yonge Street, York Twp., ON WHICH HE HAS ALREADY LOCATED. (Yonge & Steeles Ave., Toronto). Tavern here or and/or Vaughan. Sold 20.
. 1819 Aug. As a lieutenant he was granted 1000 Acres & an additional 400 Acres from his wife, Mary Willson.
* 1796 May 28, Cousin John Brown Lawrence presented Richard's land grant to his friend Gov. Simcoe:
. 1796 July 30, already built on it: 18 Duke Street, TOWN OF YORK. Today 179 King St. East, Toronto Downtown.
. 1796 8 Oct - Granted & lots in Vaughan, (just across the road from his Lot 25, Con 1 Yonge.) Steeles & Yonge Streets, tavern here or and/or at Vaughan.

. 1797 Minutes of the Town of York: Richd. Lawrence: 2 males & 4 females.Total six.
i.e. Ricd. & wife Mary & John, Mary, Marg., Eliz. & Mary Anne Lawrence.
Note10: Town of York had only 52 males & 34 females living on Yonge St., Toronto.

. Two Surveys of Settlers actually living on Yonge Street:
. 1797 Aug 3, York, Lot No. 25 East, 5 Acres cleared, Richard Lawrence is on the premises.

. 1797 Jun 27 - Oath saying he knew Sarah Lakerman, wife of John Wilson, Jur & that her father died within the British lines in the year 1776. Signed, Richd. Lawrence.

. 1798 June. Lot 25 East, Richard Lawrence, i.e. He is living on the lot) Four acres cleared. Small log house. Surveyed by David W Smith, Esq., Surveyor Genera.l { Is Wm. L. Willson, his brother-in-law on the adjacent lot, actually living with his sister Mrs. Mary Lawrence? - PJA.]

. 1802 Jan 12, Tuesday Richard Lawrence (7th) sworn to Petty Jury of 12 men. John Evenor the accused. When the miller was absent, John Evenor was seen taking a sheep away from the barn yard. Discharged because no Prosecutor was present.

. 1805 Mar 2. Richard Lawrence of Yonge St. who had received a license to keep a Tavern for House, at his dwelling house & who had removed from thence to another Public house; applied for leave to keep a Tavern under the same license in the house to which he had removed. The court do not find themselves authorized to comply with this request as they deem the License to be attached to the house recognize has been taken & not to any other.
Note11: 1804 Feb 1. Richard sells Lot 3, Con 4, Vaughan Twp. property. Coincidence?

. 1807 Jul 24 - Justice Robt. Thorpe's address, Summary: Whereas a goodly number of Independent Electors convented for discussing the sufferings whose situation was resplendent by many not his friends to be very deplorable of his losses which at first he yielding to their entreaties to represent them in Parliament in UC or England. A multitude of signatures, inc. Joseph Shepard, Richd. Lippincott, Alex. Montgomery, Baron Fred. DeHoen, Peter Muscleman, John Van Zantee, John Willson, [most likely junior] William L Willson, Stillwell Willson, James Finch. Richard Lawrence, William Johnson, George Taylor Denison, J Hale, Walter Moody, Peter Whitney, Garret Van Zantee, Sam D Cozens, Peter Winter.
Ref: Report on dn Archives, 1892.

. Ely started early. John Powell & Geo. Ridout soon overhauled me - fed at Buttanans? 18 miles - at Lawrence 17 miles, went on to Cantfields 11: a little after dark.
. 1809 Sep 29th - John Arnold & Ely Playter drew a load of ashes from [Richard] Lawrence's the AM. 47 bushels.
Ref: Ely Players Diary.

. 1815 Dec 30. Richard Lawrence received a Tavern License for Township of York. £12, Issuer James Kerr.

. 1818 Dec 26, Quarterly Session of Peace, Charlottesville, London District
$2 Costs of Court The said Sum for Wages to the said Alvin.
Ordered that as the License is Left in the behest? of the Magistrates all persons being desirous of keeping publick houses are required to attend on the last Saturday of this month precisely at 10 in the forenoon at which time the Bonds will be ready for signature, as an Act of the Legislature has passed to that effect.
The Court took into consideration the Tavern Bills & agreed as follows.:
Richd. Lawrence £3.10s & Wm. Lawrence £3.

Extracts from HIS CHILDREN'S LAND PETITION RICHARD LAWRENCE:
. 1818 Apr 14, Richard Lawrence is now in Woodhouse*, Ontario, daughter Margaret Lawrence.
. 1818 August 6, Mary Ann is with her parents at Long Pointe, Ontario.
. 1819 October 13, Richard is in Woodhouse now, wrote daughter Elizabeth Osborn-Tarbox-Lawrence.
. 1819 Aug 20 - Richard Lawrence sells West ½ Lot 25, Con 1 ESY for £350.
. 1820 April 11 & 20th, He is now in Charlotteville, London District, (Norfolk County).
. 1821 Feb 21, Sold Vaughan Twp. property of his wife, Mary Willson.
Note12: Woodhouse is now called Naticoke.

. 1828 - Photo of large wooden mill: Lot 1, Con. 2 East. Markham Township. Bayview Ave & Steeles Ave. Fish Mill, NE corner Steeles & Bayview in 1961. This grist & saw mill was built in 1830 by Benjamin Fish, next to the distillery that he owned (built 1828). Though the original mill was destroyed in a fire, Fish built a new one on the same site. Demolished in 1965, when the intersection of Bayview & Steeles was widened.
. The Town of Charlotteville:* When the war of 1812 broke out the court-house was used for barrack purposes, ... was christened" Fort Norfolk." The court house, jail, the fort & the tavern of Job Loder all stood on the elevation above the flat. A hotel was built under the hill & kept by a man named Hatch. In 1833, during the cholera scare*, a hospital was built at this place. It stood on the bank & was a barn-like structure & was used but little, if at all, for the purpose for which it was built. The old Town of Charlotteville reached the zenith of its glory during the war. In 1815 the District Courts were removed to Vittoria & the Town of Charlotteville relapsed into Turkey Point once more. No traces of its old-time importance remain, save a few surface irregularities indicating the spot occupied by the fort. The dreary waste at Turkey Point was, for 13 years, the judicial metropolis for all this vast region of country.
Ref: Pioneer sketches of Long Point Settlement. Published 1908.
Note13: Was this the cause of Richard Lawrence's disappearance? Note14: *Charlotteville is now called Delhi.

. 1831 May 3 - DECEASED of London District, wrote son, Richd. Lawrence, and also deceased was an Innkeeper, deceased per Jane Lawrence.
. 1846 Smith's Canadian Gazetter, Province of Canada West:
Harwich, Kent Co, Western District, soil extremely fertile, 1898 inhabitants. Timber - white oak, black walnut, maple, beech, hickory, basswood etc.

A more complete history with copies of ALL documents & photos may be found at North York Public Library, Toronto under Richard Lawrence, John Willson & John Brown Lawrence of New Jersey, NB & Ontario. By P J Ahlberg, May 2009. - - -

Birth:
Monday. Upper Freehold Twp.

Richard married Mary WILLSON, DUE est 1786 in New Brunswick, Canada. Mary (daughter of John WILLSON, .1, Sur. and Rebeka Thixton THICKSON(E)) was born est 1770 in Piscataway Twp., Middlesex Co., New Jersey; died est 21 Feb 1821 ± in Charlotteville, Norfolk Co., Ontario. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

. Richard Lawrence's New Brunswick Land Petitions indicate he was single March 1786 at Queensborough & married by August 1789 on the Miramichi. They could have been married by her father, a Justice of the Peace for Miramichi, or perhaps by an Anglican Minister in transit on the Miramichi, who had baptized a Willson child [Jonathan Willson 1783 & John Willson.III, born 1791?]
Further Research: However, also retained for further search: St. Andrews Church, Long Island. 1780 Oct 5, Married, Lawrence Mary & Lawrence, Richard. Vol. xxx, Page 56. This seems this would be too early for this Mary Willson.

. UC Land Petition 63, L Bundle 4 c 1808 p241
York, daughter of John Willson, [MARY WILLSON,] Richard Lawrence.
. To His Honor Peter Russell, Esq., president of the Government of Upper Canada etcetcetc. In Council:
The Petition of Richard Lawrence of the Township of York. Humbly shows That your Petitioner is a Loyalist & came from Nova Scotia about 3 years ago, [1794] that he is married to Mary, the daughter of John Willson, Esq. of Kings Mills on the Humber, who is also a Loyalist. That your Petitioner's wife having never received any Land, your Petitioner prays your Honor would be pleased to grant him 200 Acres in right of his said confer & is in duty bound your Petitioner will ever pray.
Richard Lawrence, York, 22 June, 1797.
Envelope: Ordered 200 Acres to wife of Petitioner as DUE, 1778 Dec 24. [Daughter of an Empire Loyalist.]

Ontario Land Registry Abstract Vaughan Book 185,
Lot 1, Con 3, Vaughan Book 185, p4
. 1802 May 17, Patent, Crown, to Mary Lawrence, All 200 A
. 1821 Feb 21, B&S, Richard Lawrence et ux, to John Guthrie, £100, All.

Note1: As of 2018 this land is now 1900 Steeles Ave. West, Fairbanks Lumber Co., Concord, Vaughan Twp., York Co., Ontario. As of 2018 this land is now 1900 Steeles Ave. West, Fairbanks Lumber Co., Concord, Vaughan Twp., York Co., Ontario. -PJA

Note2: Husband Richd. Lawrence had other land at Lot 1 Con 4, also the adjacent, Lot 25 across on Yonge St in York Township. In others words, all located on Steeles Avenue: First East at Yonge & Steeles to Dufferin St.]

. 1801 Children's schoolhouse, Condition of Yonge Street:
Lot No. 25 west & east complied with, Lot 25 East Side of Yonge Street; nothing done to the street & a schoolhouse erected in the centre of the street. This is the end of the Township of York.
Ref: Report to Surveyor-General D W Smith on the condition of Yonge Street in 1801, by John Stegmann, formerly a Hessian officer.
. On page 427 of Scadding's memoirs, he tells us that Elisha Pease taught in this early schoolhouse.
XReference: E. Pease was a witness of the WILL of John Willson, Jur. in 1818 & also John Johnston, 1852.
Note3: The schoolhouse was built in the road allowance in front of the Lawrence's property so the children could find it & not getting lost in the woods. Just a few lots away, Jacob Cummer tells us a black bear was digging up his garden. - PJ Ahlberg.

. DAUGHTER & WIFE of a TAVERN KEEPER:
Mary Willson Lawrence & her children, had much experience at Taverkeeping. Husband Richard Lawrence held a UC licensed tavern located on Yonge Street north. She & her friend, as noted below, Mary Thompson visited Miss Elizabeth Russel when Thompson was employed by the sister of THE most prominent & powerful man in Upper Canada. From extracted stories from Ely Playter's Journal we may see what life was like a woman tavenkeeper in early Upper Canada:
. 1806 Jan 11 - Thinking it was a tavern, Ely Playter & a companion mistakenly stopped & stayed over night at Mr. Miller's house. Implicit in the mistake at Millers & throughout his journal, is a parallel understanding that household life intersected with public life in taverns.

. 1802 May 2 & Sept 29 - Mary Thomson*, Playter's journal's Miss T - also lived at his house. She was the daughter of a substantial farm family from Scarborough Township. Her father, Archibald, was a master stonemason & a Justice of the peace from 1806. Nothing about her presentation in the journal suggests less than respectable young womanhood. It is difficult to account for her presence in the tavern rather than on her family's farm. [Scaboro Museum, 2016]. Certainly not a servant in the house, she socialized within the same circles as the tavern-keeper & came & went as she pleased.
Playter mentioned her almost exclusively in the parlour usually in the context of polite sociability, but once he noted, I seated myself by the Parlour fire & finished my letters to Mr & Mrs Rogers, it was one o'clock in the morning before I retired to bed. Miss T sat at her work till I had finished writing. This brief reference & others, imply Mary Thompson may have worked in the textile trade from Playter's tavern & continued so working after marrying John Scarlett of the Humber. Tavern-keepers placed tea tables in their parlours. Nor did anything about the emphatically public nature of their homes work to exclude the women of tavern-keeping households from local networks of female friendship & association:
The Tavernkeepers' daughters, Player saw Miss Beman, the Miss Jarvises, & Miss Robinson on their way home as they had been visiting & he gave my Sister's Compliments to her as they had requested in their letter" In their taverns these women crafted a female space for sociability, into which they also welcomed men.
Ref: Women, Men, & Taverns in Tavern-Keeper Ely Playter's Journal, by Julia Roberts, Guelph.
Note4: Mary Thomson's husband-to-be, John Scarlett was granted in 1817 Apr 2, Lot 19, south side of Richmond, that is across the street from husband Richard Lawrence. Ref: Town of York Abstracts, p263.

. 1837 - Toronto & Home District:
. 1799 - Population 224; 1800 - Population 1127. 1818 - Population 8,459.

Date & place of burial of Mary Willson Lawrence is unknown. Last known whereabouts of Mary Lawrence was noted in her daughter Mary Ann Lawrence's UC Marriage Bond of 10 August 1819, where permission to marry was obtained at Long Point in southern Ontario. Rebecca Lawrence says her father died when she was very young & she was reared by an older sister, implying perhaps that Mary Willson was dead between 1821 & 1831 when her husband died & thus making Rebecca about 16 years of age - not so 'very young'.

Richard Lawrence was an inn keeper in the Long Pointe to Harwich, Ontario, until his death about another 1 years later, about 1831.

A separate Willson Family Tree may be found at Ontario Ancestor; & also Rootsweb.com: John Willson of New Jersey & the Kings' Mill, Ontario. - - -

Birth:
Alt DOB: Est 1765 -1769.

Died:
Alt Loc: Harwich, Kent Co., Ontario