Stranica 43 [43]
29
HISTORY OF LEEDS AND GRENVILLE.
the Gospel, a few years before the Revolution, both
ordain a missionary for the exclusive service of the
Mohawks, John Stuart, who was selected for this
purpose, was born at Harrisburg, Pa., in 1730. In
1770, he proceeded to England for ordination, and
received Holy Orders, being, at the same time,
appointed missionary to the Mohawks of Fort
Hunter.”
In consequence of his loyalty tothe British Crown,
Mr. Stuart was driven to Canada in 1781. In 1784,
he proceeded from Montreal to Kingston, stopping
on the way at the place afterwards call New Johns¬
town, which he was instrumental in naming after
the Johnstown settlement on the Mohawk. He was
undoubtedly the first English Clergyman to hold
services in the United Counties. He was dealt with
inthe most liberal manner by the government, and at
the first session of parliament in 1792, was named
Chaplain of the Upper House of Assembly. He
died August 15, 1811, in the seventy-first year of his
age, and was buried at Kingston.
At an early date attempts were made to establish
an English Church in Elizabethtown ; service was
held in private houses, and, after its erection, in the
old Court House. From a mutilated record of the
proceedings of St. Peter’s Church, Brockville, we
learn that marriages were celebrated by a clergyman
having charge of the spiritual welfare of the people
in 1811. The clergyman, at that time, was not a
resident, so far as we have been able to ascerftain.
The first marriage on the record bears the date
September 25th, 1811, and chronicles the union of
George Manhard and Jenny Korison.
The first clergyman in charge of St. Peters
Church (according to the Church books), was the
Rev. John Bethune, who, on the 12th day of
January, 1816, married Andrew Jackson to Sarah
Blodget. On the 7th of November, of the same
year, he joined in wedlock the Rev. William Smart
to Philena Jones.
Mr. Bethune appears to have taken charge of
Elizabethtown, Yonge, and Augusta, and to have
severed his connection with the parish in the latter
part of 1818, removing to Montreal, where he was
known as Dean Bethune, having succeeded the Rev.
Mr. Atkinson, who removed to Upper Canada.
In January, 1819, the Rev. John Leeds took
1817, previous to that time, the date being Eliza¬
as " Officiating Minister,” but subsequently as “ Min¬
ister.”
2: by Sir William Johnston and the Rev. Mr. Inglis, of | bethtown. The last record in the Parish Register,
a New York, the last of whom also laid the subject | in the handwriting of Mr. Leeds, was penned
z before the Government of England, in the form of | February 28th, 1825; Mr. Leeds being succeeded
; a memorial. In 1770, the Society consented to | by C. Stewart, who at first signed all documents
He appears to have commenced his duties
in April, 1825, relinquishing them the same month
—probably officiating until the vacancy was filled
by a regular appointment.
In July, 1825, the name of John Wenham appears
as Minister, and continues until July, 25th, 1830.
The baptisms were at that time mostly performed
privately, but in some instances the ceremony took
place in the Court House or school house.
Mr. Wenham was rather a remarkable character ,
wearing a cocked hat, and a coat embellished with
brass buttons. He was a brother of the manager,
at that time, of the Brockville Branch of the Bank
of Upper Canada. Mr. Wenham subsequently
returned to England, where his eldest son became
a priest in the Roman Catholic Church.
The next clergyman was the Rev. W. H. Gunning,
who remained in charge until the middle of July,
1833, when he was appointed Kector of the New
Dublin Parish.
On the Sixth Sunday after Trinity, E. Dunroches
assumed charge of the parish. During the years
1826 and 1827, St. Peter’s Church was erected, but
was not dedicated until 1834, as the following
minute in the Parish Register shows:
“On the Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity, in the
year of our Lord, 1834, and on the 31st day of
August, the Church of this Parish was consecrated
to the service of Almighty God, by Charles James,
by Divine permission, Lord Bishop of Quebec,
and was then entitled ‘Saint Peters Church.’ The
Honorable Charles Jones presented and gave into
the hand of the Right Reverend the Bishop the
title deed, and also the key of the Church, at the
same time.”
The original site chosen for the Church was the
plot now occupied by the Canada Methodist Church,
Court House Square; the land having been ten¬
dered to the congregation by the late William
Buell. Mr. Charles Jones also offered the site
actually chosen, and, after considerable discussion,
his proposal was accepted.
Mr. Dunroches was succeeded by the following
clergymen: Dr. Lewis, now Bishop of Ontario,
ie. ah charge of the Church, celebrating a marriage on residing at Ottawa; Mr. David, Curate; Dr. Lauder,
s Stt the 14th of that month. It is worthy of notice, | who removed to Ireland, where he died ; Mr. Tane,
& ey . that the records first bear the date of Brockville in ! and Canon Mul@ch.