Stranica 97 [97]
OCR
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 McCargar, the family of Thomas consisting of seven sons—viz.: Thomas, Robert, Gardner, Hugh, Philander, 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 ; Lyman 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 Brockville. 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 Concession 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 consisted 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 Kemptville, 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
