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OUAKERS. Canada was visited, in 1790, by two Quaker preachers of note; they were David Sand and Elijah Hick. One of the first regular preachers settled in Canada was James Noxon, who resided in Adolphustown. A meeting-house was built near Jacob Cronks, in Sophiasburg, in 1829. From a very early date, the Society flourished in the vicinity of the Bay of Quinte, where, at the present time, it has many members. In the Rear of Yonge a meeting house was built at Farmersville, where the Society at one time boasted a large number of adherents; but of years, the sons and daughters have fallen away from the faith of their fathers. late CHAPTER X. MISCELLANEOUS. THE first white child born of English parents in America, was the daughter of Mrs. Dore, of Virginia. According to the Registrar of Quebec, the first white child born in Canada was Eustache L’Anglois, born October 24th, 1621. ham, and from him the Plains of Abraham derived The first white child born north of the Rideau was Col. Edmund Burritt, yet alive, and a resident of Thornbury, Ontario. The father’s name was Abratheir name. The first male child born in Leeds was James Sherwood, son of Thomas Sherwood; the first female child was borne by the wife of Joseph White —born on lot No. 4, 2nd Concession of Elizabethtown. Among the pioneers, great difficulty was for many years experienced in the consummation of courtship, the Rev. Dr. Stuart being the only regular clergyman from the Lower Province line to Kingston. Sighing swains were compelled to wait for months, and in some cases for years, before the golden opportunity presented itself. To obviate this difficulty, in many instances, magistrates, colonels, majors, adjutants and surgeons consented to perform the ceremony. By the Act of 1783, these irregular marriages were confirmed. The practice yet in vogue in rural sections, of keeping intending marriages a secret, no doubt, in a measure, grew out of the system of posting up notices of the intention of persons t interested. Public opinion rapidly changed in ers rs of all denominations, and in 1798 an Act was passed, which made it lawful for the minister of any congregation professing to be a member of the Church of Scotland, the Lutheran Church, or a Calvinist Church, to marry according to the rites of such church. By a clause of this Act, the clergyman was compelled to appear at the Quarter Sessions, prove his office, and take the oath of allegiance. It will be observed that, by this Act, the Methodists and some other denominations were treated with contempt by the authorities at that time ruling the Province. An obvious right was withheld, and a grave injustice done to a body well deserving of recognition. In some instances the ministers were not disposed to quietly submit to the unjust law. Elder Ryan and the Rev. Mr. Smith, Ryan’s son-inlaw, both performed the ceremony. Kyan was in consequence banished from the Province, but was pardoned. Smith stood his trial, acted as his own lawyer, and got free. Justice was at last done by the Act of 1831, which, in addition to the churches before named, made it lawful for the remaining orthodox denominations to solemnize matrimony, after having obtained certificates from the Quarter Sessions. In May, 1814, the Government appointed five persons in the Province to issue marriage licenses, the point in Eastern Canada being Cornwall. The ladies of ye olden time, and particularly the brides, were dressed in a style essentially different from those shown in the fashion plates of the Bazar tor 1878. Fancy bonnets, kid gloves, and silk dresses were never dreamed of. The most complete wardrobe consisted of a home-spun dress, deer-skin petticoats, dyed blue from the bark of the soft maple, and a squirrel-skin bonnet. In many instances, bride and bridegroom mounted the same horse, and rode away to the nearest magistrate, a happy couple. Mr. Hiel Sliter informs us that, in the rear of Lansdowne. the first wheeled vehicle was made by sawing the wheels from the end of a very large log, putting an axle in, and building a rough box above. No doubt, on such state occasions as a wedding, this unique vehicle was in request for the bridal tour. On the ioth day of June, 1828, Doctor Peter Schofield delivered a temperance address to the inhabitants of Bastard. The address was published at the time, and a copy remains in the hands of his son, W. A. Schofield, Esq., of Brockville. The address is remarkable in more than one particular. It was the frst temperance address delivered in Canada, and led to the formation of the first temperance society. It also contains an account of “spontaneous combustion,” which came under the oF
