Stranica 151 [151]
Edmund has the following children: Anna M.,
married Melchior Eberts, C. E., of thes Canada
Pacific Railway; Fred. E., and Frances Mary.
Alexander has four children: Mary, Anna, Alex¬
ander H., and Edmund F.
Colonel Stephen Burritt raised the following
family: Henry, born August 26th, 1791 ; Edmund,
born December 8th, 1793; Sarah, born February
2zoth, 1801; William Augustus, born May 18th,
1803; Stephen, Jr.. born November 5th, 1805;
and Hamilton, born June 29th, 1809. Edmund
Burritt is still alive, and resides at Thornbury,
Georgian Bay.
The following account of Colonel Stephen is
furnished by his fourth son, Stephen, of Thornbury,
and differs somewhat from that furnished by his
nephews :—
“Stephen Burritt was the first white settler north
of the Rideau, undergoing severe trials and priva¬
tions, for a long time carrying his provisions for
thirty miles on his back. At one time, while chop¬
ping, he was attacked by a Mohawk Indian, who
ordered him to quit the hunting grounds of the
tribe. The struggle was a desperate one, but at last
the Indian was thrown to the ground and an axe
held over his head, when he begged for mercy and
promised friendship, a promise which he faithfully
fulfilled.
Burritt was employed by Baron St. Ledger as a
writer of war despatches. Subsequently, he joined
his regiment and took part in the battle at Gage’s
Hill (where he was wounded) Fort Edward and Sara¬
toga. It was, as a discharged member of Rodger’s
Corps, that he came to Upper Canada.”
While in the army and quite young, Mr.
He was appointed a Justice of the Peace, and in
1810 elected member of parliament. General Brock
made him.a Lieutenant-Colonel, and reposed the
greatest confidence in his judgment and abilities.
Stephen Burritt, his son, was at one time Post
Master at Burritt’s Rapids, and subsequently one of
the Inspectors of the Clergy Reserve Lands. He re¬
moved to Thornbury, Ontario, in 1855.
Shortly after Colonel Burritt settled at Burritt’s
Rapids, he and his wife were attacked with the fever
and ague. Having no neighbors they were com¬
pelled to rely upon themselves. They grew worse,
and at last were confined to bed and helpless. For
three days and three nights they were without fire
or food, and fully made up their minds that they
must die. At this critical juncture, a band of Indians
arrived at the Rapids, entered the log cabin and at
once comprehended the situation. The Squaws
prepared some medicine and food, carefully nursing
their white brother and sister until they recovered,
the braves in the meantime gathering and storing a
I3
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small field of corn forthe sick man. From that day
the Colonel threw open his house to the dusky sons
of the forest, and ever after it was no uncommon
thing to awake in the morning and discover a score
of savages reclining in the hall and in other parts of
the house. When proceeding up the river in the
spring, they frequently left many articles with the
Colonel for safe keeping, not forgetting, on their
return in the fall, to present him with a rich present
of furs.
Mr. Charles Burritt, son of Adonirum, resides with
his family in Augusta, about two miles from Mait¬
land. Heisa highly respected citizen of the Munt¬
cipality.
THE COLLINS FAMILY.
The Collins’ were originally from Yorkshire,
England, emigrating in 1660, and settling at Hart¬
ford, Connecticut. Stephen Collins came to Canada
as a U. E. Loyalist in 1784, taking up land in the znd
Concession of Augusta, his family arriving the next
year. His wife was a daughter of Samuel Landon,
a U. E. Loyalist. The family consisted of Reuben,
Jehiel H., Rufus, who married Miss Drew, of Smith’s
Falls; Daniel, who resides in Maitland ; Charles
married a daughter of Edmund Burritt; Samuel
married Miss Pollock ; Lois married Alexander Mc¬
Eathron, of Perth ; Anna married first, Mr. Chap¬
man; second, Christopher B. Stevens, of Merrickville ;
Pamela married Mr. Clothier, of Nepean ; Daniel
still retains the homestead. He served in the
militia in 1837, as ensign, and was present at the
battle of the Windmill as a lieutenant, receiving a
captain’s commisison in 1849. He was appointed a
church warden for forty years.
BYRON MOFFATT BRITTON, M. A,, O. C.
Byron Moffatt Britton, M. A., O. C., was born in
the Village of Gananoque, County of Leeds, on the
3rd of September, 1833. After attending the county
schools, he removed to Cobourg, and graduated
at Victoria University in 1856. In the same year,
he entered the Law Society of Ontario as a student,
and began legal life in the office of the Hon. P. M.
Vankoughnet, of Toronto. Three years afterwards,
he was called to the Bar, and began the practice of
the legal profession at Kingston, in 1859. In 1863,
he married the eldest daughter of the Hon. L. H.
Holton, of Montreal. Since that time, he has held
several municipal offices. In 1873, he was chosen to
represent Sydenham Ward in the City Council—a
position which he filled for three years. In 1876, he
was Mayor of the city. He was Chairman of the
was elected a Bencher of the Law Society of