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Lewis Grant, a Government Surveyor.
Mr. Grant, assisted by William Froster, P. L. 5.,
surveyed the first five concessions into lots. Some
time after, the Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth
Concessions were surveyed by James West, P. L. S.
EARLY SETTLERS, PREVIOUS TO 1812-15.
Among the first settlers were Ensign James Grant,
Major Peter McAlpine Grant, Samuel Wilson and
his son James, Denis Barton, John Stanton and his
son John, Michael Conway, John Byce and his two
sons John and David, David Hunter and family,
consisting of seven sons and three daughters ; Mr.
Parnell, Peter Jackson, Thomas and Joseph Mc¬
Cargar, the family of Thomas consisting of seven
sons—viz.: Thomas, Robert, Gardner, Hugh, Phi¬
lander, Milo, and Barnabas—and two daughters,
Mrs. Benjamin Beach and Mrs. Barton; David
Beach and his sons—viz.: William, Abraham, David,
Mahlon, and Benjamin—also three daughters ; Ly¬
man Clothier, John Snyder and sons, Major Gideon
Adams and sons Abel, Samuel, Gideon, William,
John, and Joseph, also daughters—Mrs. Fenton and
Mrs. Huntington ; Lewis Kilborn, Joab Wood, John
Luke and sons John, Abel, and Nathan; John Smith
and sons David, Peter, and James, and daughters
Mrs. James Wilson and Mrs. William Adams; Peter
Quackenbosh, Eli Kilborn, Peter Cummin, and sons
William, Robert, John, and Peter, and daughters
Mrs. John Gray and Mrs. D. McIntyre; Alexander
Campbell, David Stephenson, Phineas Pelton and
family of four sons—Phineas, Elisha, Elijah—and
four daughters ; Mr. Wilcox and sons Abel, Joshua,
and Stephen; Mr. Vanburen, Jacob Bonesteel, Ezra
Brockway, Mr. Tromblay.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
1744. Served in Burgoynes’s army. Settled in
South Gower about 1797.
Major Peter McAlpine Grant, born in Inverness,
Scotland ; Ensign of 1st Grenville Militia. Captain
during the War of 1812 ; Major during the Rebellion
of 1837-8. The Major settled in the township in
1797, and built the first saw-mill in 1802, on Lot
No. 1, in the 3rd Concession.
It is related that in 1813, the British forces
stationed at Prescott were nearly out of supplies,
when Captain Grant volunteered to take a despatch
to Brockville. The Americans had landed near the
Blue Church, and taken possession of the pine
woods on the road between Brockville and Prescott.
When Captain Grant rode up, he was hailed by the
seniry posted on the road. The Captain replied,
“A friend,” when he was again challenged. By
this time, he was close at hand; putting spurs to
his horse, on he dashed, and soon arrived in Brock¬
ville. In the mean time, the enemy, fearing danger,
retreated to the American shore.
Samuel Wilcox and his son James, settled first on
Lot No. 9, in the 3rd Concession, afterwards on Lot
6, in the 2nd Concession. He kept the first hotel at
the place now called Heckston; the Methodists at
an early date holding services in his house.
John Smith settled on Lot No. 2, in the 3rd Con¬
cession in 1806. He had three sons, David, James
and Peter. David and Peter served in the war of
1812-i5. About the year 1820, David erected a saw
mill on the north branch of the Nation River; the
mill is yet in running order under the management
of his son, James Smith.
In the year 1801, David Byce settled on Lot No.
7, in the 4th Concession. John Byce, who held
several municipal offices and was a magistrate,
settled on Lot. No. 7, in the 5th Concession ; David
Byce, Jr., on Lot. No. Io, in the 4th Concession.
Phineas Pelton came to Canada from the United
States in 1801, under the Royal Proclamation, settled
on Lot No. 6,in the 4th Concession ; his family con¬
sisted of four sons and four daughters; two of the
sons, Phineas and Elijah, settled in the Township.
Elijah survives at the age of 83 years. Inthe war of
1812, Phineas served as Quarter Master’s Sergeant,
Phineas has filled several municipal offices.
Major Adams, a half-pay British officer, settled on
Lot No. 7, in the znd Concession, in 1805. As a
Justice of the Peace, he solemnized marriages.
The family consisted of six sons and two daughters.
The sons were; Samuel, Gideon, William, John,
Joseph, and Abel. During the Rebellion, Joseph
commanded a company of horse, and was a gallant
John was the captain of an
infantry company. The daughters were Mrs. Fenton
and Mrs. Dr. Huntington.
Lyman Clothier settled on Lot No. 11, in the 4th
Concession. He had four sons—Asa, Lyman, Henry
and John. Asa built the first flour mill in Kempt¬
ville, and was the father of Ambrose Clothier, Esq.,
of that place. |
Thomas and Joseph McCargar, two brothers from
the north of Ireland, settled on Lot No.1, in the 5th
Concession, about 1800, They both served in the
British army during the Revolution. Thomas had
1837-8. Milo McCargar commanded a company at
the Windmill, and distinguished himself for his
gallantry. He served in the old Johnstown District
Council, and was also elected member of Parliament
for the County of Grenville, in 1840. Thomas