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a fishing and hunting expedition, taking among the provisions a quantity of spirits, to which Beech had not the slightest dislike, but imbibed very freely. At night, they built a fire, and camped beside it. Beech, whose deerskin pants had become soaking wet, and who himself was not sober, laid down by the fire, and soon fell asleep. When he awoke, the buckskin had contracted and dried so tightly about his legs, that, for the life of him he could not regain his feet. The only alternative was to cut the pants off, which was accordingly done, and, as there was not an extra pair in the camp, the hunter marched home sazs his breeks. Chapman Pennock was the first Town Clerk of South Crosby ; appointed in 1814, he held the office for about twenty years. When teaching in the Township, his school was attended by the late Jesse Delong. Chapman’s family : Samuel, Charles, Arthur D., Alice, Henry, Prosper, Philomon, Charlotte, John, William, James. Isaac, and Stirling. THE BISSELL FAMILY. The founder of this family was David Bissell. At the close of the war of 1776, Mr. Bissell, with his worldly all, which consisted principally of a good wife and sixteen children—eight sons and eight daughters—started through the wilderness of Vermont for Canada, They crossed the St. Lawrence at St. Regis, and wended their way up to Weatherhead’s Point, where the Village of Maitland now stands. He selected a tract of land almost directly in the rear of his first resting place, between the 3rd and 5th Concessions, which, as the reward of loyalty to his king, was by letters patent conveyed to him. Here he made his home, with his compatriots around him. His first rude abode lasted for half a score or more of years. In the year 1801, he raised the frame of a large, substantial residence. This has been the home of four generations. The year 1787 is remembered as the year of direst famine ever suffered in Canada. He had a good supply of grain on hand, and he put his family on short rations, that he might spare the more for his less favored neighbors. He was offered 400 acres of land in his Township for twelve bushels of wheat, but declined the offer, and divided out his surplus grain among the destitute settlers at the usual price in plentiful years. He died at the age of 58 years, possessed of a large body of land, in different locations, and an untarnished reputation, leaving six of his sons honorably settled around him. One he left at his old home, in Eastern New York. His sons, Jehial, Friend, David, Edward, Zenas, and John, left large, respectable families of sons and daughters. His daughters, six of whom lived to maturity, married honest,respectable husbands, who became men of note in their neighborhoods. Among these, were Joseph Wright, Esq., late of Wright s Corners ; Asa Landon, father of Wellington Landon, Esq.; Abraham Clark, and Ethan Crippen. Zenas, his seventh son, became the owner of the old homestead. He married Lydia, daughter of his near neighbor, John White, who was also one of the old U. E. Loyalists. Twelve children, nine of whom grew up—four daughters and five sons—resulted from this union. The youngest daughter remains unmarried. The eldest married Arza Parish, Esq., one of the leading merchants of Farmersville. Adeline, the second daughter, was married to Kev. A. W. Cummings, D. D., an account of whom IS found in this work. The third daughter is the Alpheus, the first son of Zenas, married and raised a respectwife of William Bersee, of Brockville. able family at Merrickville, where, at 70 years of age, he now resides. Arza, the last son, went West. homestead, at the death of Zenas, became the property of Artemus, the second, and James, the third, son of Zenas. Mr. Bissell long served as a magistrate, and also as a member of the Council of Augusta, and of the Council of the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville. DOCTOR CUMMINGS. The Reverend Anson W. Cummings, M. A., D. D., from three months old to nearly his sixteenth birthday, resided in the Township of Augusta, County of Grenville. He early developed an especial fondness for books and study, and, amid great difficulties and with very limited aids from teachers, he acquired a good elementary English education. 1833, he resided in Brockville. From 1830 to Invited by his uncle, Hiram Cummings, Esq., of Boonville, Oneida County, New York, he left his Canadian home to attend a Grammar School near his uncle’s. He then went to Cazenovia, New York, and was for some years a student in the Seminary there. In 1836, he became Principal of the Collinsville Professor in the Seminary at Gouverneur, New York, the associate of Rev. Dr. (now Bishop), J. T. Peck, D. D., L. L. D., and in 1842 was elected the Principal of that Institution. From 1846 to 1852, he filled a at Rogersville in East Tennessee.
