Stranica 154 [154]
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family consisted of the following children : Samuel,
Aaron, Hon. Timothy B., William, Adeline, Eliza,
Khoda, Fred B.
. THE GLASSFORD FAMILY.
Paul Glassford was descended from an ancient
Scotch family ; he was born in the Province of New
York (then a British Colony), four years before the
breaking out of the revolution came to Canada, the
family being driven from the colony by the rebels in
consequence of their loyalty to the British Crown.
At that time there were five brothers of the family,
John being the father of the late Paul Glassford.
With their families they made their way from the
Mohawk Valley, where they resided, until they
reached the shore of Lake Ontario, near where
Sackett’s Harbor now stands. At that place they
secured a batteaux to convey them to Niagara, where
a British regiment was stationed. Paul at this time
Was six years of age. Whencoasting along the lake,
the party frequently landed, to secure game and
cook provisions. During one of the halts, Paul was
lost and could not be found. The distress of the
parents cannot bedescribed. Three days were spent
in searching the forest, but no trace could be found
of the lost child. Sorrowing, they departed on their
journey, believing that little Paul had been devoured
by some wild beast. What happened is best de¬
scribed in the words as they fell from the lips of Mr.
Glassford in after life :—
“TY wandered away from the other children, gather¬
ing wild grapes and flowers, and, before Iwas aware
of the fact, I was lost. I could not make them hear
my cries. I continued running about, expecting to
find the lake. I at last became overcome with
fatigue, and, lying down, cried myself to sleep.
When I awoke, the son was shining. I satisfied
my hunger with the grapes I had gathered,
which were abundant around me, and continued
to travel through the woods by day, sleeping in
the best hiding place at night. I do not know how
many days I had wandered about, when I suddenly
came in sight of the lake. I was overjoyed, thinking
that I would find my parents. I ran down to the
beach, and looked in all directions, but could see
nothing but the clear blue water in front, and the
dark forest behind, I had lived on the wild grapes
all this time, as I could find nothing else; and as I
had heard my father say that Niagara was towards
the setting sun, I continued in that direction along
the sandy beach day after day, concealing myself at
night in the bushes, as I was greatly afraid of
meeting with Indians, thinking they would take me
with them. For fear that it would prove cloudy, I
made a mark in the sand every night before going
]
to sleep, so that I would not be mistaken the next
morning in the direction to proceed. One day I saw
an Indian and squaw coming along the beach, I was
frightened and hid in the bushes, but escaped their
notice. After they had disappeared, I proceeded
on my journey, travelling day by day until I reached
the mouth of the Niagara River, where I was taken
charge of and conveyed to the camp, by some
soldiers. I told them that I had been lost in the
woods, I was soon in my mother’s arms, my parents
having delayed along the shore in the vain hope of
receiving tidings of me."
The family settled in the Township of Matilda,
County of Dundas. In 1820, Paul entered into the
mercantile business, in Augusta, just above Mait¬
land, removing eventually to Brockville. He was
an active Magistrate; frequently chairman of the
Court of Quarter Sessions. Retiring from active
life about the year 1850, dying March 3oth, 1858.
Mr. Glassford was twice married. His first wife
was Miss Parlow, by whom he had one son and one
daughter. His second wife, a daughter of the late
Colonel David Breakenridge, bore him five sons and
four daughters, of whom two sons and three
daughters survive.
THE COLEMAN FAMILY.
The man that causes two blades of grass to grow
where only one has grown before has been character¬
ized as a public benefactor. Measured by sucha
standard, the Coleman’s are well deserving of the
grateful remembrance with which their memory has
been preserved by, not only the citizens of Lyn, but
also those of the United Counties. Men of untiring
perseverance and energy, they built up an exten¬
sive manufacturing business, transforming a mere
Through the con¬
struction of canals, dams and embankments they
quadrupled the water power at Lyn, with which to
supply the great mills and tanneries, surpassed at
that time by none in Eastern Ontario. What Lyn
was the Coleman’s made it; what Lynzs must be
ascribed to their loss."
The following is a short genealogical sketch of the
original members of the family. Several of their
descendants reside in Leeds at the present time :—
Three brothers, named Richard, David and Abel
Coleman emigrated from Washington County, New
York, to Canada. Shortly after the revolution, Abel
and Richard settled at Lyn ; David settled at Farm¬
ersville, Abel taking up four hundred acres of land,
also conducting a tannery and grist mill at Lyn for
many years. L1
hamlet into a thriving village.
Abel died about 1808. Mrs./Coleman
nee Hannah Elliott, daughter of a U. E. Loyalist,
survived her husband nearly fiíty years, dying in
1853, Abel left ten children; Richard, John,
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