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Tous les autres exemplaires originaux sont filmis en commen^ant par la premiere page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par la dernidre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbole -^> signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbols V signifie "FIN". Les cartes, planches, tableai"x, etc., peuvent dtre film6s d des taux de reduction diffdrents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour hue reproduit en un seul clich6, il est filmi 6 partir de Tangle supArieur gauche, de gauche A droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images nicessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mithode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 THE EARLY '•I V — *w0 BY '^. NOl^r^lSH, it , ^<^ I X c<)mipilinck to the first territorial division and note the chanj^es ijs thev took place. And I have also imdertaken to ;j;i\'e sketches of the different laws that have been p:issed 1)\ Parlinment for the government of the people, especiallv in rej^ard to municipal matters. And, al thouij^h some mav think that T have de\'oted loo much space to this p:irt o' mv historv, I here be<^ to state that 1 could not well avoid it, as I have been mixed up with these affairs in the Township for many years and when a man ""ets into a ( leep cut it IS not so easv frettui": out '>f it, and moi*e than that, T know there are some that will enjov this })art as much as T do, and it will show tl le p!o<;ress mad< 1( dat e ni leirislation as well as m any othei 11 )th( liiin"- in connection with our history, a li I have also devoted more space in describing the mode of living of the early settlers and their way of doing things, than I should have done if 1 were writing for the present generation only, but as I expect some person or other will preserve these papers and the older they get the more they will be appreciated. I do not expect any person to be pleased with every thing he finds here, but as people differ in taste 1 hope every person will find something to please him. I have not undertaken this task because I thouf^^ht I could do it better than any other person, but simply because no person else seemed inclined to take it up and the old settlers are fast passing away, so that it was now or never, and had it been done ten years ago much in- formation might have been obtained that is now lost. vi"f_ * -♦♦•O HISTORY OF NASAGIWEYA. CHAPTER I. THK FIRST DIVISION OF TIIK PFtOVINCE. IN the year 1791, by an Act of the British Parlia- ment, Canada was divided into Upper and Lower Canada. Lord Dorchester was Governor-General of the Britisli provinces in North America, and General Simcoe was the first Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada, and the first parliament met in his house at Xevvark in 1792. The Province was then divided into nineteen counties. Jeffers, in his '* School History," and Rvti'son in his " Lovalists of America," both sav twelve, but 1 have copied from the old statutes of tliat (hite and thev sav nineteen and describe their bound- aries, but Halton is not there, but T think the West Riding of York covered the territory where the County '.f Halton now lies. Districts were also formed in those days, I think principally for judicial purposes, as 1 see whenever a District was formed a gaol and court- house were ordered to be built. In the vtiar 1800 those nineteen counties were sub- divided, now forming thirty -nine counties, but no IL1I- ton yet. But by another division in the year 18 16, m\ HI . 1 ill -i« mSTOKY or NASA(.I\VHYA. both the Countv of IlaUoii :nul liu* Disirici of (»orc were formed. Ihilton was then to consist of the 'i'own- ships of Trafalgar, Nelson, FhnnlK)ro\ — afterwards ch\ ided into ICast and West — Heverlv, some i)h)eks on the (jrand River, anci some resei\es in lear of lilenlieiiii and Blandford. In the year 1821 this count) was en- larged by tile addition of the Tc)wi?>hips of I'^squesing, N, isatriwe\-a. Er; nnosa, T' rm ( if larairaxa an d tl le Church lands. Tliis lust [)areel 1 suppose to he the Township of l*ushnch, as tliis l^)wnship was all elergy reserve land, of which 1 w u\ have somctliing to say in another Chapter. The Dij.trict oi Gore was to cover the follo\vini> ter- ritory', vi/. Trafalurlin<>ton 15av and Coi)tes' Paradise. And by this same Act a gaol and court house were ordered to be built on Lot 14, 3rd Concession, Town- ship of Barton, to be called the Town of Hamilton, and atl the courts of law for this District were ordered to be held there. . .^ AV'hat sort of buildings were put up T do not know, but I suppose some sort of structure was erected to answer the purpose. But in the year 182? the Gore District was granted authority to borrow i'4,000 to HISTOKV OF N ASAGIWRYA. tuiUl a j^jaol and court house at this place. By this it will he seen that \vc liclpcd to huild their county huilcl- inj^s and then huilt our own afterwards, but this is only iiiic of the troubles tliat cannot well he avoided in the s.'ttlinir of a new co nitrv. CHAPTER 11. TO W N S 1 1 IP M !•: K r I N (; s. 1 N 1793 'in .Vet was passed providinj.^ for the holdinjr of township Tueetinj^s. Two inairistrates could issue a warrant jointly to a constable ordering him to call a public nieetin^ij of the inhabitants of any township not lKi\ini; less than tnirty resident householders (any township liavini4 less tiian this number was to be united to the township .tdjoinin^- them havin<^ the smallest number of iidiabitanls). The constable to call a meeting- pf the inhabitants of his township on the Ib'st Monday in ^larch, at the Parish Chuich or Chapel, if there were such, if not, then at some convenient j)lace, there to elect from amou" themselves the followinjj: otlicers, viz.: — Town- ship Clerk, two Assessors, Collector, and not less than two nor more than six persons to be overseers of high- ways, (in 1805 this number was increased to twelve) these also to be f ence viewers. O ne ounc \-\< 'epe whose duty it was to impound all animals found running at hui^e contrarv to the exist inj^ reirulations. I do not think they were required to wait for any one to deliver such animals but to impound ihem of their own accord. They were also to elect two Town Wardens; If there was a Church of England Parson in the township, he - i ii ^I 8 HISTORY OK NASA(;iWKYA. to appoint one and tho people the other. The con- stable to make liis return to the magistrates in time for their April sessions. The duties of these ofticers. — First- -The Township Clerk, to make out a list of all the inhabitants of the townsliip, ])oth m^ile anil female, and return to the Magistrates. They to assess all such rates as where levied by the legislature, this money so levietl at first went to pay the menibers of I'arliament. I do not know how much they got at this time, but ten years after this they voted themselves ten shillings per day. The Assessors also struck the rates at the time thev made the assessment and the old assessment rolls, up to 1830, contain a column with the taxes made out at one- penny in the pound. The Collector's duty, of course, was to collect the taxes. The Wardens were also church wardens, and 1 think, also to see after the poor and destitute. These otbcers to take oath of olhce within seven days of their appointment, or if refusing to act be liable to a fine of forty shillings, and the Magistrates to appoint others who would be under the same obligations. Overseers of Highways, in iSio, were required to make out a list of every person who was the owner of a waggon, cart, sled, plow or team, likewise a list of all persons liable to perform statute labor, send this list to the Magistrates, and to account for all the labour at the end of the year. The only officers that received pay at this time, as far a 1 have found out, were the Assessors and Collec- tors, and they had a commission at from 2 to 5 per cent, under different laws. After the Township was thus once organized the Clerk called the Township meetings. Men having no property were first required to per- form statute labor in the year 18 16. In the year 1S17 !IIM«»UY «)»• NASAOINVKYA. r<)v\ ii-'hip incctiiii^s wa n* clwiii^cd to lirst Moiulav in l.iiiiijiiN . In i(Si9 i\n Aft was j)assc(l iinptjsinj^^ a tax nf (•nc-i'ij^hili of a |)i'nny j)i'r acic on all unoccupied land lo liic iniproNcnicnl of roads. 1 LilAPriCR Hi OI.I) ASSKSSMKN r LAWS, \C, '^IIIC assosuK lit law in old (inics set a statute -r', valua- ill ihl II t\ lion on all asscssahlc pi()j)crty, so all tm Assessor had lo do was to enunuratc. I'\ c'l \ acre of unculti\ated land was at first valued or assessed at two shillings, hut it was soon after raised to four shilling's. Culti\ated land at twent\ shillinsrs j)er acre, no niattei where it lay nor what its cjualit\-, e\cept town lots, and tiiese were t'lo each, hut thi- too w as soon changed, and in £ I 1*1 I(J IllSTOlJY Ol" NA ACIWEYA ! I twu U) four \car>, i'l ; carriaLCcs, kept for pleasure or liire, I' I 5 lo Uicxi each, accordiiii^ to style. 1 In- law reiiiained in lt>i"ce until. iS^o. The asscssiiieiU law oi 1793, wl.ich I think was the first assessment la\\ we had, pro\ ided a sort of slid mi ij;- scale foi* the pa\inent of taxes. The assessors were re- quired to di\ide liie ratepayers into eiL(l»t classes. The Hrst class to contain the naiues of those who own ])i<)j3eitv to ihe \aUie I'^o and o\er hut li-ss than t'loo. The second class, those who (»wn tioo ))ut less than .4*150, and so on upwaids, raisinij; 1*50 each time until the eii^-hth class w.is lea. hed at i'loo, and I su]:)pose uo person was expecte I to he richer than this at tiiat time. Those not xvortii L'^o wi-re called the excused list and were not liable foran\' tax. The Assessor to comj^lete his list within six weeks of his appointment and post it u}) Oil the church door or >ome other |)ul)lic place, and an\' appeal a<_;-ainst liie asses -men t to he to the Quarter Sessions. And the hii^hest rate that could he le\'ied undei' this assessment was two shillings and sixpence for the lirst class; li\'e shillin''"s on the second class and so on to the ei^irhth class raism^jf two shillinirs and six- pence on each class. This was called a full rate, but if a smaller sum was to be levied thc\' wouid make it a half rate, a qtiarter rate, or any other fraction to suit the cir- cumstance, but no new ra'tes to b,e levied uiihl three- fourths of the money alreadv levied was spent. In the next year Parliament added a ninth and tenth class to the former eijj^ht, and the excused lisi was named the* under list, and required to pav two ->hlir!nLi' as their porticju of a wdiole rate. There were no printed forms for assessment rolls till 1S39, ^^^^^ each Assessor hadi to rule out his own. IIISTORV OF NASAC.IWEV A. TI In 1799 I tliink is the first statute that imposes a tax I'll absentee land, as it was then ealleil, 1)\ \\\-\\ law the Surveyor-Genernl was recjiiired to furnish e\er\ I)is- liict 'TixMsurer willi a list of all lands s<>l(l or leased (hii'ini;" the year, and to whom, showin;^- aKo wliat lands w ere Cler^"\ <^r Crown rescr\ es. Thr Treasureis tin 11 in see that all sueh lands ai'e assessed whether oi-cupied (ii- i\ot, and any lands hein^" in arrears for taxes for tliiee \ears, such taxes to he inereased one-third; if in anx-ars for fiNe years to be increased one-half; if ei_nlit \ears to he doubled. Thiis Act then to expire. chapti:r IV. '^priE duties anuarter vSessions and the Alagis: rates would send a surve\"or to examine the premises, and if he approx-cd of the scheme, \vould rim a line, make out a p\M\ or profile of t!ie line run, and report to the court, \\ hich the\- would adopt, and tile line would become one of the })ublic highways of the township. And as the vears rolled bv we soon came to the time v\hen Parliament received a revenr from other sources to defrav their own expenses and the Magistrates were allowed to le\ )• rates for the repair of roads and other P 11 12 iflSTORV or N'ASACJIWKVA, local iinproveincnts, l)ut thcN were limited to one penny in the pound at first, aiul no new I'ates to l)e le\ ied until at least one-half the monev iirst levied, together with all other monies comin<:^ intotl eir hands 1)\' virtue of their office, was spent. It was their business also to issue licenses to haw kers, peddlers, and hotel-keepers. And there is an old law on the Statute Hook in i 79 1 that if il had been faith- fully carrienl out from that time to the present, the hotel business would not hav e s were to decide as t(j the num1)er of hotels recpiired in a District, abo to enc[uire int(^ the life and character of the person ap{:)ly- in<4-, and if thev find him to be an honest, s()V)er, and diliirent man thev mav jjfrant him a licence. Hut if the person has not been licensed the previous year they may recpiire a testimonial imder the hand of the Parson and Churchwardens and of four reputable and substan- tial householders, settin^x forth that the applicant is of jjfood fame, sober life, and conversation, and has taken the oath of Alle<^iance. This last qualificaicjn was an important one at this perid of our history. Another important duty the Ma^^istrates had to dis- char<>"e al>out this time was in rci^^ard to matrimony, if there was no Church of England Parson within eijj^hteen miles of where the parties reside, then the parties to be tied must post up notices of their intention in three puV)iic places in the neii^hborhood were they resided, "fivino- their names. After this beini^: done a Majjfistrate mav hitch them. This law was afterwards changed so that if five *Parsons were to be fountl in the *.VoTK. — 1 tiavc used the plirnse I'ursoii in t)io previous part of tliis h istorv tiecause tliis is tlu- tc'rman|ilied to clerii'vinen of the E.stal>iished Churcii in the Statutes 1 have Cdiiied from, Init in the next parayiapli anotlier term is used iii refereiiee to otiier clerjjynien in the Statutes. ;iii(l o IIISTOKY or NASA(iI\VEYA. 13 I )istrict vvhcie t!iL- jxutics to l)c married resided, Llieti 11. » Mai^istrale to iiiairN' under a penalty of t'20. In 1798. ni Act was passed allowinu;' rej^nlarly or- dained ministers of the Chureh of Scotland, Lutherans, and Cal\inisfs t(» solen"ini/,e matrimony, hut first thet tnu->t appea'' hefore a Hencli of not less than seven Maij^istrates \\ ilh not less than sesi-n respectahle mem- ber^ of their com're^'alit.n, w ho siiall dechn'e the man ') he a renularh ordained Minister accordin;^ to the rilo of tijeij' chnicli. .And the Minister himself must uiove that he is a natural horn suhject of 11 i^ Majest\', or h.ith trd, hut there was one that I ha\(.' a plan of that 1 never could see an\' need of. It conmenced near the south corner of Lot 13, in the .|th L'oncesslon, and endinr tile lower cml of Nasai^iweNii, this was liwaxs a (li-puted j)i»int. .Some sui'scvors have said there was lio proof line as the* ])ase line had never been rnn. One Mirvevcn* has said that the new survev of NeNon and the- lower end of Xasa<^ivve\a was orii^inally intended t".>i- one township, and consctpiently the proof line nni-t 1)1 the liiie between the new and old snrvev of Nelson. 1 oelieve thei'e was some troulile in this townsjiij) some vi ar-- a^ro about this same thin near lo w hrre the old settlers had cleared and l)uilt their fences tiiai there was no room for disputes, con \\i\\ to the prophesies of these old sur\ eyors. While searchinj^ old records in the Parli.iinentar\ Libi-ar\', in Toronti;, some tinx^ =>U'^>^ ^ i^^^^ with an old ^tiiute for the nall be the line at the l)ase of the sur\-,yors operations. Slierwood, then, in his lield notes, (kscii! es his opera- li'Mis as follows: —He commences his surN'ex at the west corner of the old survey of Nelson, and run up lilteen lots as recpiired for Xels'»n, the i .i;oe>- l)ack and runs othei" lifteeri lots and ])ack a_<;'ain, and so on until he arrives at boimdary of Trafali^ar. Then he comes lip seventeen lots .uu\ back aij;- tin, and then takes aJi- other conce->sion line and runs seventeen lots, and so (V)ntinues until lie has gone the width of the towr-iiip. Now, then, \vhei"e was the base of his v)perations in surveying that part of XasaL^iweya. It certainlv was be line betvvee.i Nelson and Nasao-ivvcva, and in his leturn to the Crown Land Office he does not describe . I (I i * ! >1 I 1:1 I! i I "1 16 mSTc^RV OK NASAGIVN i:^ A. as one t(n\ nshi] ])U1 ;ls LIic real" t'lid « i N cison :ii,(l j)ai of Xasa""i\vcva. Aiul Sherwood iinist lia\c luii thi.s line whether he hhized it or not, or hi'> stakes could n th ever l)a\e heen in line after eliaininif nearly six mile> ironirii sncii a wnderness as ld( that \\ as. Kycknian then commenced his -ur\ey \\ here Sl-iei- wood left off, and ran the rear cud of the township and ma( le 1 ns return in the same vcar as bliei \\<'0(L m the :1. th montli of Decemher. Some of tlie settlers lia\e thoui^ht tliat there was a road allowance on this check line, but th ere is no nu licat ion o f it on the sur\c'\()r >- maps, in dl otlier places of road allowance tliere is a double line (li'awn. i but li lere it is (mis a smtrle hne, neillier is tliere th tl nutnin''- s :iid about it in tlie tield note: All these ineld notes contain is a short description of the land they pass over, the kind of timher, the depth a.nd width i of streams, and the direction in xN'liich they run. Now, if there liad l>een an allow ance for ro;\d here, the first sc ttl ers Wo iild surelv ha\ e ^een the stakes, l-ut on tlie C()ntrav% a petition was sent to the Ma'jfistrates in tlie J ' year 1828, asking to have a special road across the ^rd d concession on this very line, and this petition is sio^nec b\ the owners and occupants of Lot 18, in the 2nd and 3r(l Concessions, which shows clearly that they had seen no sucl indications. The road hei'c referred to was laid out by the late Mr. McCay, but was never penecL Aliich has been said abtout the .joj^s in the o cross lines th ere is no nu licat ion o f th esc in th e sur- veyors maps, [ill is straight and even there. It is much easier to (h'aw a Hnc on paper tlian to run with a com- pass through the hills and swamps of Nasagiweya. Some have said they rail up one line and down the next and some times lost their tallv, but this could not ha\e been the case, for R> ckman could ne\'er have struck 9< HISTORY Ol NASAGIWICYA. '7 Slurwootrs sUikrs if he had done tliis, thc\ l/cin^- so incL^ular. R\ckinaii pretends to ut the law directs that in douhle fronted concessions like onrs the sur\cyors, in rnnninLC (li\ idinif lines, shall run from each side to the centre of the concessio^l. It wa^ not easy to a\'i()d j<><^s, hnt they mi'dit ha\e hecn less than thcv are. On the line be- tween the 3rd and .|th Concessions Lot - 30 are short ncarK' 20 acres, hut about Lots 18 or 19 they ON'crrun about as much as the others are under. There is a small item in the ileld notes that I j^iye here for what it is worth. Kvckman, in his suryey be- tween the .jth and ^ih Concessions, Lot 30, about the centre of the lot, sa\s: '•'• Compass attracted by iron >re; attraction lu'ars io'j -' cast 1 CHAPTER \\. NAMi: AM) DESCKIPTK^N OF THK TOWNSHIP. IIL name of our township has been a pu//'e to many n ot so much as to its on<'in for cycry person sup- ])osed it to be an Indian word, but its meaning was veiled in ol)scurity, and as to the correct way of spellinp^ il I always said to people tliat if they could make it sound like Xasa^j^j^veva it would alvyavs lie ri.u-ht. 1 .once asked soi^ie (){ the Six Xation Indians 11 they II ; , ( iS HISTORY 0|- \ASA(,I\VKVA. i :: I !i could tell nic anvlliinir about it. Thcvsaid it l>clon'''c(l to the Chip]:)c\va dialect, which they did not iindei- staiul. Since then I was advised that Dr. Scaddint;, of Toronto, was (he likeliest man in the world to sol\e this ([uestion. 1 therefrue wrote to him and he has kindly answered me as follows: I settled it u\ mv own niiml several years ago from respectable autliority, that the ineaning of tlie word was between the two " waters or streams." I am sorry I cannot at tliis moment lind mv memorand.i on the subject. Yours trulv, II. S('Ai)i)iN(;. Xow, I thiid< that I can show lief ore 1 <^et throuL,di \\itli this Chapter that thi name, with this definition, is ([uitc a])[)lical)le to our township, and as to the spellinoundcd on the south-east by the Townsiiipof Nelson, on the south-west by Puslinch, on the north-west by r^.ramosa, on the north-east by lisciucsin^^. ItistweKe miles loni; by six miles wide, divitled into seven double fronted concessions, contaiiiin^ thirty-two lots of two hundred acres each. The bearing of tlie concession lines is north forty-five deforces east, the cross lines north thirty-eii.iht decrees east, making the lots a little diamond shaped. The land is of almost every descrip- tion, except driftini^ sand, and while we have some <]^ood farms scattered o\cr the township the greater pixvi of it is rather rough. The mountain crossinGf it at the south-cast end causes the hnid to be \'ery uncv^'u and very stony, sopie places HISTORY or NASAfJIWP.V A. 19 solid rock and hi^h precipices, but even this territory is ^;ettinf the township was mostly pine i;p to tiie middle of the township and in some parts a little aboxe that. In some places there was a scatterinf it was cut and .shipped to J^ritain several years ago. In regtu'd to water we are pretty well supplied, but we have no large streams. The sixteen mile creek is the longest, in flood time it can be traced up to the west corner of Lt)t 25, in the jth Concession, and the east corner of Lot 26, in the 6th Concession, thence down past Bell's and vSayer's saw mills, over lIilton''s falls and joining another branch, which lias its rise about Lots 6 or 7, in the 2ntl Concession, flowing through Campbelh ille. They unite on Lot 5, in tlie east-half of lot, 4th Concession, and constitute the power which 2o IflSTOjn' ()»■ N'AS.\(iI\VEYA. r M drives the X:»saiwe\a in e\erv direction, into i*uslinch on Lot i > into Nelson at the end of the 1st Concession and on the ^^th Conces- sion, into Esquesing on Lots i and 3 and attain at L>4 25 tliere is a small stream in tlood time, and into Kv:\- mos:i the drainaj^^e is in that direction on the; ist, 2nd and 3rd Concessions. There also some tields which dis- charge water at^both sides, the one runnino- to Lake Ontario, the other to Lake Lrie. There is one such at iIk" soiitli coriKT nf Lot 22, ill the ^nl Coiiccssi(»n, and :i!H)tlu'r at the cast conicr of Lot jfo, in tlicolli Conccs- '^ion. Anil nio>^t of the farms l)ctvveiMi tlicsc two points dischar^L' watci- in I'oth directions. This towii-^hip was visited at (.'K' time h\ a laavv cvclone. l)ut at \shat dale is not Ul^'\vn as there is no rccoi'd <'f it tlial [ lia\ c ever heaid oi, hut it must have 1 ei'ii fiom one hundred lo duc hinuh'ed and fifty years aL^'o. It crosses the tow nship diaj^-onaily from west to east, takiiiL;- a stri]) a]>out a mile wide, the middle of the stri)^ is ahout Lot 23, in the 1st Concession, and crossiiii^ llie line into Es(iuesii:jr ai)out Lot «S. It is said to have extended from lake to lake and took down everNliiinir ► 's in its course except .m odd pine stul)h. CTL\i'Ti:R \\\. « . riii". r,!:\i:i: Ai. iiis totj s' ni^ imonki'hs staikwc. .\sd .M\KIN(, A IK^Mi: IN IIIK IKSll. 'piIIS P]()\intc was priticipalK settled hv lmmiass he wonld (|(» so, otherwise he wonld he L^nided hy the snr- vevor's hla/e ( that is, marks on the trees) in na\ i^atinj^' thrfinL^h tlu* woods, a nil heforetheihiN sof friction matches he nni^t not for<^et hi> tinder hox and its ])elon«^s (if the reader ih)es not know what this Is he mnst ask some one that does ), and when he has ^onnd a lot to suit him he selects a suitahle place for his dwelling,' and erects his shanty near il, lea\ in, |)ut the butt end of the L'ml lo, it will liaxc pitch enoui^^h for the roof. Now for tlie most primitive kind of a roof get hollow basswood trees, :■. '~a,-iy,ir^»-^jiffi:9]i^'r^f>Jh~V'tm insloKY or NAS.\(iI\VEY\. n split llicni in U\ o pieces, l;i\ a tier alonj^ the top of the ImiKlin^, with the llollnw side up, then aimthei- tier witli the hollow side down so the eih^es t>f the top <»nes will (hop into the hollow of ihe under ones, and nou ha\ e a roof. 1 f \ on wish to eni'>\ the hi\ui\' of a llloor Non can make one with split io^s and iiew tiuMU witii an axe. The door-\v.»v is eomnionl\- cut in the front wall aid a small window in the hack. \e\t, how to make a door if hoards are not at liand: I'ake cedar or li'^hl wood and splii it a> near the size as von lau and • hess it with the axe oi' attons, pin sour hoards to these with half inch pins, make your ))ins w ith a small head on the outsiile ajid a wedj^c on tile inside and von can ha\e a stroui* door and half of the hiuii^es, for t,he other half of the hinj^es lake another ])icce of hardwood one inch \)\ two inches, make one (.-nd to fit into the hole in the hatton, with a shoulder to it, pin it to the door jam and han_ht and fasten a hoard to them, and for seats take >tead, bore a two inch hole in the end 1ojl( of the shanty at the distance from the side to suit the widtli of tiie bed, tlien another in tiie side \o'^ to suit the len^^th of the l)eil, take two [)ieces of wood, make one vnd of each piece to lit the holes in the logs, and where th.ese cross each other put a post; now you have a bedstead pretty W. i ^+ HISTORY ni" X \S.\c;i\\ KVA. fl III i; i iicarlv matlc, nnd I t!iin]< \ (mi c;iii (V)nstriict []\v re- maindcr without adxice. Get moss and chink Mic crc\ ico :nul \i)iih;i\c a w.uin d\vellin<^ witliout an\' ii"on, not vww a n lil, and tlicrc ha\c ])ecn many such huilt in Xa^aL^iu ry. For lar^j,*cr huil(hr_^"s, si'di as sta])lL's oi- small hanis, tlu' roof was made out of cla])-l)oards. These were split out of eedai" oi' pine about three feet lon^ .md about half an inch thick, also put on \\ ilbout nails. 'J'o ])re]:)are for this kind of loolin^ raise the building- the height \ on recjuire the w;dl to be, (hen la\ a b)^- aeix)ss at each end to project (uer the wall, ])]ates about a foot at cath side, tlien jMit anotlier li^ht lo^^ the le!i_:,lh of the build- ing- and la\- it in :>n these end lo<.;-s about a foot or two from the plates. 'Jdiis would be tlie be;j^inn!nL;- for the pitcli of the roof, then another end lo^r nnd another side loLi^ and so on until one pole or loj^" in the centre formed the lid^e; tlien dress off the ends of the end loi;"s so the clapd)oards c^)\er them, but do not touch the lirst l(\i cla))-boai (Is, one end I'estini;" on llie plate and the other end on the first lo^- tliat \\ ;ts laid aftei" the plate on the side, then a pole rcstiuij^ on' (he j:)rojectino- ends of tliat loni^ lojjf \\ 111 keep the clapdviaids in ]dace, ])ut on another double row of clap-boards and anotlua' pole, ])ul a. short pole cut scpiare at both ends to kec)-) these riders in their places, and so continue until (lie laiildin^- is all co\ ered. Idiis was commonlx' cal led a crebbed roof, but foi" a nick name stake mid I'idercd roof. These buildings cost bu( little and answeied the pur- ])ose at (lie time, of course tlie el<'a.riniL>s were small and the woods sheltered these buildmj^'s at that time, but they would be of no use now. HISTORY OF NASAGIVVEYA. 25 But these old structinc soon p^ave way for better building's, especially if the man had a wife, ])ut if he was an old bachelor he would haiuj: on to them a lonc^ while. A log house properly built made a very com- fortable house, the common size was about twenty feet bv twentv-six, and about twelve lo^rs hil)lin<^ in the laws bv which the people were <]^overnetl, as it leads to a better understanding^ of what will follow. In 1836 township nicetin^^s were rccjuired to elect three Road Commissioners. These nien were to have con- trol of the statute labt^r. Ilitlierto the diN'isions were laid out at the town meetings, and any person who has attended these meetings must know that the business done there was not alwa\'s done for the best interests of the public. ISIen were a little selfish then as well as now, and as all tlic inhabitants (hd not attend these meetings those that did attend could not be blamed if thev did sclieme a little for their own benetit. Perhaps I may be pardoned if I just here describe wjiat I ha\e seen myself. These meetings were generally held in the barn yard, and if a division was to be taken on any (juestion before tlie meeting, the Chairman would oi-dcr some person to count one party past one corner of the barn and another to count the other party around the other corner of the barn, and if a man was pretty smart lie might dodge around and be counted twice. But to return to mv sul)ject, the town meeting now appointed the o\ erseers of highways, but the commis- sioners would gi\e instructions as to whcie the work '-hould be done. These commissioners would meet for business as circumstances might rcrpiire. They in the first vcar laid down tlie following" rules for the euce half- penny That hot^^s shall he fed one quart of oats or other "-rain at a cost of four pence per da\ There was no pr(n'ision for any either animal. In 1S37 j the law for apj)ointing road commissioners was repealed. Tne next chan<^e was in 1841. The law was passed for the estahlishincj of District councils. *i It provided that every township shall at the general I township meeting elect one councillor, and if the Col- lector's roll shows that there were over three hundred freeholders and householders in the township they shall elect two councillors. The head or presiding officer of this legislative hod} to he called the Warden. Said Warden to he appointed hv the Governor of the Province to hold t)ffice during pleasure. The property qualification for a councillor was £300. , The person elected to he liable to a fine of i*io if refus- .; ins: to serve after heinof elected. The council so elected ; shall furnisn the Governor for the time being with a list of names of three persons whom thev may think fit to fill the office of clerk for the District and he shall select one of these three and appoint him to the oihcc, he also to hold ofHce during pleasure. At the end of the first year one-third of those men to o;o out of office and the second year another third and the third voar the remaining thiro. The retiring members to be selected by lot and shall be eligible for re-election. The Governor also to appoint the District Treasurer, he to take the ])lace of the former District Treasurer appointed by the Alagistrates. The council to hold four meetings every year in February, Mav August and Noyember, and no session to be held for a longer period than six days; tlie mendiers to bear their own expenses and recei\e no pay. The council 1 J HISTORY OF NASAGIWEVA. to appoint two auditors, and all accounts to i)0 audited within one month after each meeting, and at tlie close '»f each vear the Waiden to transmit a conv of the District accounts to the (Governor of the Province to he laid hefore Parliament at its next session. These coun- cils had a))out the same autliority as the mn<:^istratcs pi"e\'iously hafi in respect of roads and ))ri!l^es and countv huildings, for providing means for d<.*fra\ing expenses of administration of justice, and for the estal)- lishment of schools and a reasonahlc allowance for their riippoii. They also had to fix the. salaries of all town- sjiip officers. And every \-j daw passed hy a l.>istrict council had to he subniitted to the (jrovernor of the Province and he had thirty dixys to consider wliether to approve or disallcAv the .-ame. This Act remained in force eight years. !n i'Sjh9 our present municipai law was passed and came intcVtorce the next year. And now it w as Coimty Councils instead of District Councils, and the meetings were still lield at llamillon. In 1S53 an Act c;f Parliament was passed to separate the counties of WcTitwortli and llailon, and tlu* iii'st meeting in ITalton to carry this Act into effect took ])lace in AIilti)n on the J 2tli dav of ]ulv in that year, for the purpose of organising a Provisional Council iai' tne Coimtv of Ilalton, and tlic late James "S'ouug was appointed Warden, oi' ralht )■ Prcnisionai Warden, and hv the end of tlic yeai* 1^54, we had our count\ Imild- ings huilt and the separation had taken place. And a \ ery unfair division it was. Weniwo'rth retained eight townships and allowed 1 [alton four. We sliould have li.td one or both of the I'landioro's. They always be- longed to Halton, but oui" men wove out voted and had tt,^ submit, and it was better than to remain in the union .any longer as we were in a minority, and if ouv repre- ^i 30 HISTORY OF NASAGIVVEYA. sentatives wanted a grant of money they had to do a good deal of wire pulling to get it. In looking over the minutes of the old Gore District Council I have seen several divisions where the vote stood 13 to 5 ajjainst Ilalton. This hein"f the case it was hetter to separate. It will not be out of place to mention here that the first man Nasagiweya elected to the District Council was balloted out at the end of the first year and another man elected to fill his place. Perhaps I said enough about these antiquated laws, and therefore will say no more on this subject at present, but now get right into Nasagiweya and give the reader something that will not be quite so dry. But another little item first, I heard of some Indian relics having been found on Lot 7, in the 7th Concession, so I wrote to one who was present at the time, and he savs they picked up about three hundred skulls, manv of them showing the mark of the tomahawk in them. They also found finger bones with copper wire rings on them; the wire was wound three times around and pressed together. There was also bracelets on the wrists. There was also a lot of iron tomahawks with a peculiar stamp on them; a lot of bone beads strung together, anil pieces of rude crocker\' marked around tlie edges as women mark their pies at the present time. The graves are about three hundred yards from the camping ground, and the rr":^i; r'scan be seen at the present time. Every time tV 1. :; . i.lowed there are bones or somethins: turnm In coninn.i.c^ >^ the history of the settlement of this township I have a difticulty to contend with that I did not expect a few weeks ago. mSTf)R\ f)F NASVCIWKVA. 31 xl lu- T had got what T expected to l)e the earhest records oi the tomnslii]]', commeiiciiit; mith its organization on the first Monday in January, 1837, when our first town mccling" was lield and onr regular staff of ofhcers appointed accordnig to tlie then existing h\ws (^iee second Chapter of this History ), bnt a short time ago 1 met with the foll come so far a second time to help them, the mother got onto one of the plates ta hold the foot of a rafter, William held the foot of the other and the father raised tliem ; l)ut the mother to prevent accident tied herself fast to the pkite with a rope. At one time when the father was away at work they had a verv fine patch of corn, but one rjight a heavy storm of wind and rain came, up and the corn was laid flat on the ground with the roots on one side sticking up in the air. The family were grief stricken at the sight, but Airs. Scott's energy ^vas equal to the occasion, she got ____ — i HISTORY OF NASAGIWEYA. 35 WiHuun to hold the the corn In position iind she, with a hoc, pulled soil around to keep it there, and ^ood irrovving weather followni*;, it again took root and they had a good crop. Hut those hard times were soon to pass away, the and Mr. Scott and Mr. to be oxen s soon grew xon started for Toronto market with their two yoke of cal Ri oxen andasled, loaded with twenty hushels of wheat, and sold it at five york sliillhii^ a 1)ushel. The icnn'ney oc- cupied five days, and I tliink tliis was David Scott's first cash sale. Soon after this a mill was built in Milton where, as William said, they could get their wheat chawed up, and, although it was a poor concern it was a great ac- commodation. In the year 1S30, I see by the old assessment roll that David Scott had become the owner of the east-half of Lot I, in the 6th Concession. Another farm was bought in Trafalgar, adjoining what is now the Town of Milton, for the son William, where he now resides surrounded by all the comforts of life. John, the youngest son, still lives on the olil homestead where the parents died many years ago at a good old age beloved and respected by all who knew^ them. William Trudcrcn, a native of Cornwall, Enahuid came to America in the year 18 18. Landed at New York In May after a voyage of eight weeks. Stopped some time in the State of New Jersey, then came on to Queenston, remaining for a while, thence to Little ^ ork, now Toronto, spending a winter there working around where he could get a job. And in the year 182 i, as near as can be known at present, left his family some- where near the twelve mile creek, on Dundas street, and began to look around for land. Free grants were 36 Hl'^THRV or V\^\GIWEYA. I then to be g"ot in almost any surveyed township in the province. He j^ot a list ot some land in Chinquacou&y and went to sec it, but he did not like it. He went back and got a list of some lots in Nasagivvcya and made a strike across the contitry to see it. Another man came alonj^ with him. This was in winter and snow on the ground. Prudgen had his traveller's kit as described elsewhere. They came through a part of the Township of Esquesing, and somewhere there? thev struck a survcyor\s shanty \\hcre they remained all ni'^^ht, and after travelling sonic distance next day Trudgen's companion got discouraged and would go no farther. Trudgen tried to persuade the man not to go back. H he did he would be in a bad fix for he ( Trudgen) had the provision*--, blankets, and every other thing and intended to keep them, but go back the man would and did. 'J'rudgen w as thei^ making his way to Lot 22, in tlie 3rd Concession, and ]")r«ceeding on struck the north corner of the lot about sim set. He made a short inspection of the lot, made up his min'.l to take it and then bcgnn to retrace his steps in search of his lost companion. He found him in the suVvcvor's shanty stretched on tlie lloc^r in front of a blazing tire almost deatl asleep, and it was with some dillicvly that he awakened him. His legs was nearest the tire aiid his pant legs and socks were burnt to a crisp and his legs a little scorched, so much so that when they commenced their journey in the morning they had to tear some pieces off the blanket to bind up the sores. What be- came of the man afterwards mv informant does not •I know. Trudgen secured the whole lot, the west-half for himself and the east-half for his son William. The father and his two sons returned to the lot soon aft*.'r HISTORY OF NASAGIWEYA. 37 this, built a shanty and cleared a piece of land, put in some crop, and in the month of June, 1S22, the parents, llieir two sons and two of their dau":hters, cime here to their new home. The late William AlcCay, for many years after a very nromincnt mim in the 'Township of Xelson, under- took to brinlack in 1831, and for some years after this the rolls are lost HISTORY OF NASAGIWKYA. 47 and Donald Black is down for it in the year 1837 '''^^^ on until 1841, but ni the year 1842 Archiluald Mc- Tavish is down for this lot and west-half of Lot 17, in the 5th Concession, and Donald Black's name disappears from the assessment rolls altoher and Jacob, who sold several years ago to Peter Black and George McFarland, Avho still own the land.- John Lawrence, above referred to, (the men were both U. E's. ) and Lawrence's wife drew the land Lot 23, in the 6th Concession. In the year 1838 James Laing is assessed for the west-half, and in 1839 Robert Laing. In 1840 Peter Campbell bought the whole lot, held it for many years, sold to Thomas Story, two of whose sons still own it. 1 I HISTORY OF NAsACnVEYA. 49 1 1 I John Hell— It has been said of John Bell and Wil- liam Knowles that they were together all their life time or as nearly so as possible. Their parents were neigh- bors in Ireland. They playetl together when hoys and in the early years of manhood emigrated in the same ship to America. I think th's was in the year 1820. They went to Fort Erie and rented some land there for a \\hile, then came to Nelson and remained about Ilannahsville, and while the families were there the men came to Nasiigiweya to look after land. John Bell got the west-half of Lot 19, in the 6th Concession, fifty acres of it being a free grant only paying certain fees that were standing; ag^ainst it. This must have been from some private person as the Government did not divide the land into less than one hundred acres. He bought a U. E.'s right of the other half for about sixty dollars, chopped out the underbrush and cleared away the rubbish and planted some potatoes among the standing trees and had a fine crop. William Knowles got the west-half of Lot iS, and so they were neighbors again. It was also a U. E.'s risfht and it cost him iiftv dollars. He also ^rot the west-quarter of Lot 26, in the 4th Concession, but made no improvements on it and it is not known that he ever had any title to it. He was assessed for it in 1S28 for the last time. William Humphrey, who got tlw' vdier lifty, took possession of it some years after, and Robert Park, who bought out Humphrey, applied to Parlia- ment some years ago and got a title to this fifty also. I have got these two men kind of mixed up here. Well^ you see, they were always so. They are supposed to have coipe into Xasagiweya in 1825, and started to make themselves a home. William Knowles had no sons. John Bell built a saw mill on his place in 1842. 50 HISTORY OF NASAGIWEYA. |! I 51! ! ; 1\ He died i>iany years ago and left (he farm and mill to his son Thomas, who still owns it. This is the only son in this townshlj). Theie is anotlier who started on the east-half of Lot 20, in the 6th Concession, hut moveil awav many years ajjo. His name vyas William. Day id Aj^ncw came aloui; wilh the two last men- tioned and they all kept together. He settled on the west-half of Lot 15, in the 5th Concession, and liycd there many years. A few years after coming^ in he V")ought the east-half of Lot 15, in the .|th Concession, where his son James started for himself hut sold and went to Kincardine. His hrother Joseph went with him. (ieorge, another son,]i()ught out Peter McPhcd- ran. As already stated there was a younger son, he and the father went to Nelson. Dayid Agnew was a yery useful man in the township, vyas appointed to many positions of trust and responsibility as will he seen h}- those who read this History. WMien the Dis- ti'ict Council w\is first organized in 1S42, he was elected to represent this township in that body. Alexander Bell and Thomas UvW came in here in 1836, these two were brothers and supposed to haye been distant relatiyes of John Bell. Alexander settled on Lot 14 and Thomas on Lot 15, east-half of the 5th Concession, and are supposed to haye got their land as free grants, and although the land was much encumbered witli stones and pine stumps, the\' being hard work- ing and industrious men, got along very well and each one soon became the owner of more land. I see in 1S43 Thomas Bell is assessed for east-half of Lot 12, in the 5th Con., and a few years later be became the owner of the west-half of I.ot 15, in the 6th Conces^ sion, and Alexander bought the west-half of Lot 14, in the 6th Concession, and east-half of Lot 15. ThesQ n HISTORY OF NA?5AG1W'F.VA. 51 the CCS- men lived to a good old age. Alexander left bis property to his son Archibald, who still occupies it. Thoiviaf* left his to James, \\ ho died some yearn ago, but the family still own it. Nicholas Dunckcl is a name thjit appears on this first roll, but 1 find that the name should be Nicholas F. Dunchel. lie is down as owner of the west-half of Lot 2, in the 7th Concession. lie got this land from (ieorge Dice in 1825, and sold it to William KUiot in 1832, and 1 know no more about him. John Henderson was at that time assessed f(»r the east-half of Lot 2, in the 6th Concession, and continues so until 1S38, and in that year that lot i also down to William b^lliot, with forty acres of charing, a family of ten persons, a yoke of oxen, two cows and some oung cattle. lie occupied this lot as his home for many years, lived'to be over ninety, ^1 do not know how much) left this farm to his son Andrew who still lives there and has added to his acres, but I do not know how much. Thomas, the eldest, I think, went onto Lot 5, in the ist Concession, and ended his days there. He was many years in the Township Council, of which an account will be found on a subsequent page. Hen- derson went to Caledonia. AVillian-r Manary was assessed for west-half of Lot ^, in the 4th Concession, in this first roll. In the year 1830 he was also a=isessed for Lot 5 and the west-half of Lot 2, in the 5th Concession. In 1S31 he was assessed also for the west-half of Lot 2, in the 4th Con- cession. In 1833 he is out of all but the first, and John Black has that in 1834. John Black was brother to Donald and James Black and cam.e here with them, but did not settle down until this time. Manary was keeping hotel on this place at that time, and John Black I ! IM 1.1 11 5^ HISTORY OF NASACIWEYA. ?s i |l ! ti. I carried it on till Manary's license expired. Manarv went to Nelson. John Black lived there the remainder of his davs and his son Peter still remains there. Ro])ert llutcheon, when he first came to this country, remained four years in Trafalgar. The son John was born there. In 1824 he drew Lot 14, Con. 3, or a part of it, if not the whole. And as to his son drawing- any land 1 think there was none of age except Robert, and he is said to have drawn the east-half of Lot 15. and in the next year the father cleared five acres and sowed it in wheat, and the family came in 1836. Robert, as already stated, drew tine east- half and bought the west-half of Lot 15, from a Mr. Dice, at one dollar per acre, and here he spent :. s days, leaving the farm to his only son David, who scill owns it. William, the second son, coir.menced business on the west-half of Lot 14, farmed it for some time, then sold to one Moreton and went to Eramosa, where he died a few years ago. Moreton has since sold the farm to Jacob Allison, who still owns it. John, the youngest son, still works the old homestead. Mr. and Mrs. Hutcheon were well known to many of the old pioneers who used to travel uj:)and down the Guelph roacl in old times, and tlieir doors were always open to the weary traveller. They>l)oth died many \ears ago beloved and respected by all who knew them. Edward Pepper is down for Lot 8, in the east-half of the 7th Concession, in 1827. In 1828 James Millard is assessed for it, in 1829 ^^ '^ ^^^^ *^^^ ^^^^' ^^*^^" It appears a Mr. McDonald drew this lot, sold it to on(>. Moore, he to Pepper and Pepper to John Kerr, in whose family it stil'l remains. James Lawson is assessed as owner of Lot 3, in the 6th Concession; is said also to have owned the west-half of Lot 7, in the HISTORY or NASAGIWEYA. 53 ICC pii son the 6th Concession. He hvcd in Es([nesing, wns a sur- \ eyor's hand and gi/t this land for services. Thomas Ross, Lot 5, in tlie 7th Concession, was either a V. E.-L. or a soldier, and drew this hnul. He exchanged iift}- acres on tlie west corner to Robert Sprint^steel for two Innuhed acres, and fifty on tlie south coiMier to John Sprin^^steel for two hunch'ed more in the south-western part of tlie pro^•ince, thus ^i^ettini^ / four hundred acres for one liundi-ed. He sold the east- half to Peter Patton about the year 1832 or 1833, and went to the Township of Moore. (jeor Methodist Church, but did not officiate in that capacity much, althou<^h his license was never cancelled. lie was a strong ad\'ocate of total abstinence, in fact, was temperate in all thin^^s. In the year 1S41, he bought the east-half of Lot 19, adjoining the other, for the sum of three hundred dollars. His eldest son left the town- ship several years ago. The second son, Daniel, bought one hundred acres of Lot 22, in the ist Concession, in the year 1870, from Duncan Morrison, for two thousand dollars, and lives there. The other two sons settled on the two home lots. John died a few years ago, but Stephen still occupies his farm. Lambert Barbaree died in 1S83, aged seventy years. Jeremiah Young — The family of Youngs were early settlers here. There are but two of their names on the first roll, viz: — Jeremiah and John, but in 1828 there were five of them. F think one of them is a sister, the name not being very legible. They were U. E. L.'s, or were descendants of these, and the girls were entitled to free irrants of land as well as thcbovs. Ilenrv drew Lot 8, in the i^ih Concession, two hundred acres, and sold it to old Mr. Cleaver, of Nelson, for twenty-eight dollars. Jeremiah drew Lot 19, in the 4th Concession, and sold Henry a part of the east-half, and they each settled on their land. Elias T^asterbrook and family came in in tiie year 1831,' and l>ought Jerry's part and settled on the west-half. And a \ear or two after they bought the cast-half from Henrv. Tames Easter- brook, the oldest son soon after settled on that part. Jolni Young is assessed for the whole of Lot 18, in the 3rd Concession, and about the year 1836 Thoinas Easterbrook bought the east-half of that lot. The west-half of Lot 18 does not appear on the rolls again until 1846, when Daniel McCintly is asscj-sed for it. I ( ! I HISTORY OF NASAGIWEYA. 55 can ghe no further history of the Youngs except Henry. He went to Nelson and from there to the United vStates, then came hack and huiU a dwelling on the north corner of the old Tiudgen farm (his wife was Trudgen's daughter), li\cd here a while and moved to other places too numerous to mentioti, and died a few years ago at his home on the Trudgen place, and not very rich then. • John W'^oUis (or Willesj is assessed for part of Lot 2, in the ist Concession, in 1827; and in 1828 Anth«)ny Wollis is down for another part of the same lot. After this their names disappea;* from the rolls altogether. 1838 John Smoke is down for tifty acres of this lot, and the next year Willi. nn Bradt is down for the same, hut I think thev are all sciuatters. .Vnthony Wollis is said to have owned the west-half of Lot 15, in the 4th Con- cession, at one time. He pretended to he a stone mason. Philip Peer owned the east-half of Lot 23, in the 2nd Concession, in the years 1827 and 1S28, then Alpheus Peer for the next three years. In 18^2 this lot was not on the roll. In 1833 Mathew ;md John Kasterhrook were assessed for it. Then the lost rolls interfere and I have nothing until 1837. Then W^illiam Norris was assessed for it until 1S40. Then Thomas Calveley was assessed for it for three vears. . And I think ]ames Easterhrook then hought it and held it until a few yejirs ago, when Nicholas Noirisli hought it and his son John is no'w living on it. Peter W^inter was assessed for two or three years for the east-half of Lot 28, in the 6th Concession, and then hoth his name and the lot are omitted from the roll until George McCay hought it in 1838, and held it many years. He sold it to Sidney Piatt ahout 1869. i 1 i III' I i I L my iiwiy O 56 HISTORY OK X.\SA(inVEYA. 'i . m III il ' f \ Piatt sold to James IVfcDonald about three years ago, who still owns it. lleiirv Winter sold the east-half of Lot 22^ in the 4th Coneession, to Neil ^Icl*hcdran about the year 1831, and his son Peter went on to it (see history of the Mc- Phedran's on another page). Nicholas VV^inter was owner of Lot 23, in the 4th Concession, sold to John Youart in 1831. This lot, or a part of it, is still connected with the Youart estate. Winter married Trudgen^'s \xyhini!,rt daughter. She died soon after and was the lirst person buried at Kbenezer. * Solomon Winter owned the west-half of Lot 22, ilv the 4th Concessioji, sold it to John Slicrwood in 1832. This was the last of the familv in Nasasriwcva. They were L". E. Loyalists, and as such, got their land for nothing and made but little of it. They were said to be nice, kind-hearted people, but lacked energy. Joseph Harris is on this first roll for Lot 2>, in the 6th Concession. I know not where he came from, but he must have been here early as he Lad twcntv-tive acres cleared at tliat time, that being the largest clearing in the township. IJe sold to John McKinnon in 1833. lie built the first frame barn in the township, old Tom Corner was the carpenter. Tlie barn is still standing. Harris went to Nelson when he sold here and spent fhe remainder of his days there. John McKinnon li\ed on this farm and died about six years ago. His only son, John, blill owns the farn\ The- Smith Famih' — The vSmith's on the mountain, as thev were then designated, were early here, but the dates 1 camiot ascertain. They are supposed to have left vScotland about 1814, with 'Lord Selkirk, for the I ludson Ba\ Territory, but when they got there Selkirk HISTORY OF NASAGIWEYA. 57 could not accomplish his purpose and so these men were left to shift for themselves. The Smith's, consistinor of father and four sons, took canoes and paddled their own way down I^ake vSiiperior, remained three months on Drummond's Island, tlien came to Penetan^uishene, thence to Toronto. There was the father, whose name was John, the sons Allan, Neil, John and Alexander. Neil and John, Jr., came to Nasagiwcya ahout the year 1824, and settled on Lot 2, in the 4th Concession; Neil on the east-half an^I.John on the west-half. In the year 183S John Black hatl the west corner of John vSmith's lot, fifty acres, and in 1S40 this last fifty is divided between him and the father. In 1842 Joliu vSmith, vSr., was assessed for his twenty-live acres, and [ohn IHack for the other twenty-five, and John vSmith, Jr., was not on the roll. In 1843 Donald Black was down for the part formerly assessed to the old man Smith, and John Black for the other seventy-five. And in the next year Daniel Hunter had thesout'i fifty acres and John Black the west fifty acres, and so it remains in their families to the present time. Neil Smith re- tained his land during his life and left it to his son. In the year 1842 John Smith, the father, had <^onc to live with his son-in-law, Robert Ramsay, and while assistinor to roll up a log on a small building which they were erecting the log slijiped and rolled back injuring the old man from which he died, aged eighty-five years. Allan Smith came here in 1832, and took up the whole of the ist Lot, in the 4th Concession, winch lie held until 1845, when his son, George, was assessed for the west-half until 1851, and I think he died in that year. Allan Smith remained on his land all the remaintler of hii^ life and left it to the family, who sold it to Henry vStingle, who still owns it. i! M W ■jr—zr : i II in I m\ ; : ! 58 HISTORY OF NASAGIWEYA. Thomas Akins, or Eakins, as it was originally spelt, and I am told is the proper way to spell it, came from Iieland when a young man, and lived a while in Bertiti and different other places before coming to Nasagiweya. He appears to have applied for a free grant and had his name entered in the office early in the year 1S20, for the east-half of Lot 22, in the 6th Concession, and made some improvement soon after, but did not settle here for some 3ears. He worked on the Erie and Welland canals and came in and chopped a little at times, he was living here in 1827 and had ten acres under culti- vation, and some time after, about the year 1S28, bought east-half of Lot 21. The first pig he owned he brought from Dundas street on his back, a distance of nearlv twenty miles, he lived his whole life time after this on the lot, and left it to his son, Robert, who still owns it. An older son, Hugh, lives on the other end of the same lot. In searching among old records of the township I met with a document, of which the following is a copy : Nasagiweya, 28th May, 1840. Since the assessment was taken I have an entire horse which you will please add to my assessment and oblige, Your Obedient Servant, Thomas Akins. Robert Berme, Clerk of the Peace, Hamilton. This animal at that time had an assessment \ aluation of £199, more than twice the amount of all his other property, including two hundred acres of land. Hugh Eakins and Robert Husband — These two are mixed up so I cannot tlivide them. Hugh Akins is a brother of Thomas Akins, he was on this first assess- ment roll but only for some stock, but in the next year was down for part of the west-half of Lot 24, in the ■ HISTORY OF NASAGIWEYA. 59 5th Concession, and Robert llusl^and, -vvho married liis daughter, was assessed for the other part of this half lot, luid so they continued until 1832, when they sold to Thomas Galloway and went to Nelson. Elijah Iliggins was on this roll for the west-half (^f Lot 21, in the 6th Concession. He was an oddity, and T suppose a confirmed infidel and always declared he would neyer change his opinion and warned his friends that if, in after years, he eyer. did so, they must attribute it to weakness of intellect throusfh old ajje. He sold his land to Donald McAlpine in 1831, and went to liye with Robert Husband (Higgins \yas a bachelor) and went with him to Nelson and liycd to be yery old. His proper name was not Higgins but an assumed one. I do not knovy his proper name, but with all his faults lie had some good streaks in him, as the follovying anecdote ^yill shovy. One spring fodder was scarce and people had to chop down trees and let the cattle feed on the tops, so one Saturday- he sent word to two of his neighbors saying he knew they \yould not like to chop brovyse for their stock on the Sabl)ath, so if they would come o\ er he would giye them each a bundle (^f hay and chop browse for his own stock. He was tlie only man in the tovynship that owned a span of horses at this time. There were four and he had two of them. John Husband was brother of* Robert Husband, came here about the same time and settled on the vyest- half of Lot 25, in the |th Concession. He was a weayer and followed the trade as long as he was able. 1 can obtain no Infoimation about his early days in Xasagiweya. He seryed sometime in the British nayy when a young man, and I think receiyed a slight bullet wound in the leg. I have heard him talk about loosing 6o HISTORY OF XASAGIWEYA. I sonic night's sleep in chasinp^ old Bonaparte on the sea. He li\C(l to he eighty-two years okl. Ills son William is still the owner of the farm. John is one of the Deputy-Reeves of Trafalgar,, and Henry is Principal of th6 Puhlic School in Oakville. I have just one man more and that is John Sword, and with him I cut off the end of this old list. He was down for part of Lot 20, in the 4th Concession. He appears to he a single man, with one animal between the ages of two and fours years. He afterwards owned the west-half of Lot t6, in the 4th Concession. He sold to AlcPherson, he to Donald McEwen, who still owns it. s ; i CHAPTER \ ; ! Mil ' ! i! I I i i I THE SECOND OLbi:sT' SETTLERS. I HAVE now gone o\er the names of those on the first assessment roll and given as much of their his- tory as I could obtain, or as w^ould be inteiesting. I will now refer to 'a few others, but 1 shall be brief lest 1 make the thing too long, and the Ihst name will V)e Mathew Job, grandfather of the present Mathew Job. He came to this township in 1S35 and settled on Lot S, in the 4th Concession. He drew one-half and bou'jfht the other half from one lames Harris. He also drew the west-half of Lot 15, in the yth Concession. Mathew was a soldier in the British arm\ ,and got this land for his services. He enlisted during the Lish rebellion; served in India, under the Duke of York, and in the Fourth Dragoons; ser\ed altogether thirty- six years. He lost his life by an accident. He was riding in a sleigh and another sleigh was following and 1 1 HISTORY OF NASAGIVVEYA. 6i the t()n«i^uc of that sleij^h struck him in the })ack and he (hed from the injury thus received. lie left the home- stead to his son William, who died several years aii^o, and his son Mathew owns Lot i 5, in the 7th Concession. Edward Thomas. — The Tiiomas family were early early settlers in the township, John came here in 1S28, he drew Lot 29, in the 2n(l Concession, and built a house on it. ICdward, his brother, came two vears after and drew Lot 2S^ in the same Concession, and tiiey are assessed for these lots in the years 1831-32, durint^ that vear the Martin's came in, atid William Martin, Jr., rented John Thomas' place and the father bought the westdialf of Lot 28 from r^dward. It ap- pears that lohn and Edward cxchami^ed the east-halves of their lots about that time, and John died shortly after, lea\ ing a wife and one cliild, and this east-half of Lot 2^ was reserved for the child. There was no clearing on it then. It has l)een known as the child's hundred ever since. In 1837 I'^dward was owner of the east< half of Lot 29, in the 2ud Concession, and the whole of Lot 28, in the 3rd Concession, except li\e acres on the east c<^)rner, which was owned bv lames Whitetnan. Two \cnrs after this ICdward was also owner of lifts acres of Lot 30, in the 2nd Concession. Joshua Long, in 1827, bought from Edward the west-half of Lot 29, ;md settled on it. vShortlv after this lulward made a bargain with John Ta\lor, a millwriglit, to sell liim the Hfty acres of Lot 30, ^\i^ condition of building a gi ist mill on it, and the offer \\ as acce}:)ted and one hundred and twentv day's work was ]:)r()mised bv the neighl>ors to assist in building the dam, but the whole thing fell through. I should have said before now that tlie parents came with I'^dward. The father was one of the first Justices in the township. lie died in 1854 t )i ! I I i ; i m !■'. }| ■ i |i. i:. I I i ! aged scvcnty-elght years, and the son died in 1876, aged seventy -one, he left four sons, George, the dentist, owns the east-half and Freeman the west-half of Lf)t 28, in the 3rd Concession, and Richard and William occupy the east-hah es of Lots 29 and 30, in the 2nd Concession. Duncan Campliell canie here in 1832 antl settled on Lot 7, in the 6th Concession. 'J'he men who first drew this lot gave it up as not worth having. After this a man 1)\' the name of Swazie drew it and sold it to [ohn vSchofield for a cow and a logging chain. Then he sold it to Mr. Camphell for two hundred and fiftN dollars, who still ow^ns it, and it would take a good many cows and logging chains to huy it now. A few vears ago he also purchased part of the adjoining Lot 8. John j\Jc(iibl)t)n came about the same time. I see he is assessed for Lot 6, in the 6th Concession, in 1833 lie cleared it up and li\cd there until a few > ears ago, when he retired to the town of Milton, where he still li\es. His son, Archibald, is on the farm. An older son, Duncan, is a barrister in Milton. Andrew Mci.\lpine came from Ballamore, Argsle- shire, Scotland, in 1828, and settled on west-half of Lot 22, in the 6th Concession. In 1831 his father, Donald Ale Alpine, and two brothers, John and ^Alex- ander, and two sisters came, and a few days after com- ing Andrew took sick w ith a soit of typhoid or ship fever. There was no doctor near, Dugald McTavish went to Hamilton and brought one and took him back and paid him sixteen dollars, but the man died, leaving a wife and three sons. John being a carpenter he had to make his brother's coffin. The father bought the west-half of Lot 21 and settled on it until about 1839 or 1840, when he moved awa}- to Malahide and Alex- m HISTORY OF XASAGIVVEYA. 63 if ip if ui ander with hini. 'I'lic next man that had the phice is Thomas Da\Idsoii, in 1841, and Jeremiah Smith in 1842, who spent the remainder of his days there, and (hcd hist winter. Ahout theyear 1835 John MeAlpine houj^ht llie west-half of Lot zS^ m the 4tli Concession, went rio-ht to work and cleared it and made it his home for life, and died last Thnrsday, 29th of Anj^ust, over eijyhty-sevcn years old. Anj^ns McKenzie married the widow l\Ic Alpine some years after, some times he worked the farm and some times it was rented. Two hrothers named vSava» a^o, leaving it to his son I'arker, who still lives on it. Jolm is now eighty years of age and hale and hearty. Joseph Allison appears on the roll for 1834 J^ssessed for the east-half of Lot 13, in the ist Concession, and in the year 1S44 appears to have bought the east- half of Lot 12, adjoining the first one, he also lived the remainder of his life here, leaving the place to his son Robert, who sold it last year to Thomas Taylor. Thomas and Jacob came in after and settled on Lot 16, in the ist Concession, but sold their farms many years ago and moved awa\'. John Kitching came to this country in 1835 "^vith an empty pocket but a pair of willing hands, in 1838 he purchased the west-half of Lot 21, in the ist Concession, went to work to clear it up, and it was no easy job on account of old pine trees lying on the ground, but by patient industry he made it a good farm. lie retired i from farming several years ago. His second son is working the place. George, the youngest, is farming last-half of Lot 23, and they have also a half of Lot 2.2, between, them, some how making three hundred acres. William, the eldest son, is on the east-half of Lots 30 and 31, in the 6th Concession, one hundred and lifty acres, and all are doing well. The father is now on 'he verge of eighty and his health is very good. I feei strongly inclined to tell an anecdote of the old gentleman here, and I think he will pardon me if I do, so here it 'roes. lie was called out to serve in the militia at C nippewa, and getting leave to return home came by way of Niagara, and thinking he was entitled to another night's lodgings at the expense of the Crown, II '1 I r -, 66 IIISTORV Ol; NASAGIWEYA. il I ■4. f '■ I [■.:| he attcmptjcl to enter the hairacks, but not knownig the counter sijj^n was refused achnittance. So, having his nuisket, he 'roes out a Uttle wav and stood sentrv him- self, and by so doinjj;- soon ;•• ^t tlnu'. Edward n Lot- Calvert Duncan rh, who still owns it. Edward Calvert^s sou still owns part of his father's farm. I'honias Locker, grandfather of the present Thomas Locker, \\ as a very early setllei' here on T^ot 31, in the 2nd Concession, he spent his days on the place. It lias cliannrfd hands several times and is now in the market. His son John scHtled on the east- half of Lot 25, in the ;^rd Concession, a few \'ears after and his son Thomas is still there. Jeremiah IIir>t, l^ot S, in the 2nd Concession, was a l>ritlsh s, and tlrew the east-half of Lot I, in the 3rd concession, of Eramosa, and in 2823 hought the east-half of Lot 32, in the 3rd Concession of Nasagiweya, for the sum of €22. In the year 1821 lie married l^arhel Cleaver, of Nelson, and settled on HISTORY OF NASAGIWEYA. 71 his Erainosa lot. I here ^'wc a copy of an old ccrtif- cate, which speaks for itself: That John Ramsay was born in this Con^rejtratioti of honest and industrious parents, tliat he always supported a virtuous moral character, and that he was admitted to Church pri\ ileuses while with us, is certified at Bint, near Londonderry, this eighth day of April, 18 19. By Hu(i!i Hkookk. When Mrs. Ram -ay ""s fnst child was horn she was in Nelson and stopped some few weeks after. When she came home the\' had a cat and as soon as the infant started to cry the cat ran from the house, and the late John Harris was then liNinj^ in a shanty ahont where Rockwood now stands, and diirin^r the ni^ht he heard a cat on the roof cryint^ for adniittance,he got up and let it in. It was Ramsav^s cat, there was no other cat in the neighborhood at that time, the cat ne^■erleft Mr. Harris. rh ltd urs on. ay, en )th nv of ^?> on 2 I on CHAPTER XI. VILLAGES. pAMPBELLVILLE got its name from fohn Camp- \j bell, who was the first settler in the place, he came from Sco'.land to Lower Canada, stopped there one year then came here in 1832, erected a dwelling iti wigwam style, covered it with hemlock boughs with a faggot of the same foradoor, li\ed in this three months. I think he drew his land e:ist-half of Lot 6, in the 3rd Concession, erected ])etter buildings as soon as he was able, and in the }'car 1S37 was making preparation to build a sawmill on the creek which ran thrMigh the land. And thinking that the place where he intended building his dam would be a better place fur a bridge :v si i : i to cross the creek than where it theii Avas, called on the road commissioners to examine the place.. The road comniissioners at this time were David Aji^new, John Black and John Sherwood. These men agreed with Mr. Camj)bell and ordered thrt the overseers of hi^rh- ways livin*rew. \\\ the year 1848 a man by the name of Priest opened tavern here and I will give the names of those who followetl in that line of business as near as I can get them. Next was Mrs. Cameron, next Campbell in 1850, then James Kidney in 1851, in CampbelTs house. In 1853 Andrew Kerr opened in William Easterbrook's house: in 1854 I think Kerr moved out and William Easterbrook mo\'ed into his own hotel; then Young and Graliam. James Cargill and W^illiam Easterbrook both kept hotel in 1858, and in 1861 Kidne\' and Easterbrook, and so it contin; ed until 1868. Then John Coote takes Kidney's place until 1873, then Alex- ander Davidson until 1876, in 1875 J. A. Earrell takes l^^asterbrook's place. 1 cannot trace the whole of this hotel ])usiness correct any fiirther. William P^aster- l)rook returned to the village some time during the period when the Scott Act was in force and kept a tem- ]:)erance house in Kidney's new building, and Eelix De\'lin purchased the place about two years ago. 1 now take the storekeepers. Malcolm Campbell kej^t the first store and j^yostoHice in WMlliam CamplKdTs house in 18.49, Alexander McPhee kept in 1850, then W. D. Eyon. then Joseph Graham, next McGuftui in i8'^2-53. Eglantine Black, McLean and vSliaw in 182^9, HISTORY OF NASAGIWKYA. 73 and also Duncan Smitten, then Lawrence Smitten, then John llolgatc, »S. R. Lister opened in 1S72, afterward D. D. Christie, J. W. Ki(hiey, Mason Bros, in iSy^. And now Hiovvn and Beaty commenced in 1S85, Robert Alcade opened a shoe shop here in 1S54. There was also a tannery here built by Charles Knowles in 184S, and run by him three or four yeais and then by Thomas Daviilc, closed about 1854. The old saw mill was followed hy a steam mill built by Elliot and Mul- holland in 1852, then in 1854 Thompson Smith ^ot hold of it and did a large business until 1873, at this time the pine w^as about all used up, Cargill and Whelihan bou^'f^^ McLarty V)uilt the frame hotel, which now stands there, and exchanged it with |ohn McEwen for his farm. Lot 26, east-half of 5th Concession. Mc- Ewen kept it for some time, then M. Lyons. Since that several parties have been there and pretended to keep a temperance house and sell whisky until the place got too warm for them and the\- had to dig out. In the store business F. S. Clarke kept a while in Gordon's shop, John Smith and xVngus Cameron each kept a while on the south side. In 1855 George McLarty built the frame house where Dr. Winn lived (now oc- cupied b}' AlcPhail as a tea shop), and kept store there himself; after him Lewis Ferguson, he was here in 1S61, Dimcan Smitten l^ept store on the north corner at the same time. Robert Meade opened a shoe shop here in 1857, and carried it on until 1864. Then kept store until 1876, established his apiary in 1878, and is still carrying it on. Donald B. McKellar had a black- smith shop here in 1S63; he was the son of Archibald McKellar. T HISTORY OF XASAGIWEYA. 75 11 1. S a tv re in er IS This place has hitherto been tlie home of the medical profession in Nasagiweya. The first was Wm. Scott in or about 1852, boarded with Mr. Ilutcheon, was succeeded by James Hell, son of Alexander Bell, he died in 1859 of consumption, after two years practice. Next Dr. Anderson, and I think Dr. Cobden came before Anderson left, and l)oarded a while \> ith Thomas Easterbrook, then came to the \"illa^i^e aftei- him Dr. Rc^bertson, now Reeve of Milton, lie was succeeded by Dr. Winn in 1867, who stopped here till last Decem- ber. The Village is now pretty flat, the only busiiiess carried on that I know of is 15. King's carpenter shop, Meade's apiary, and the tea store. ^ lUiOOKVILLE. The first beginning of this place was in 1S52 when Thomas Easterbrook built the store. I think lie had bought some wheat the year before. The storehouse w^as built the vear after and so was the hotel. Andrew Kerr was the first hotel-keeper and remained there •until about 1S60. Thomas Simons is there in 1S61, and the next was William Spiers, and when he left there Ilenr} Stingle mo\ed into that house and kept l^.otel until the Scott Act came in force, when he sold the premises to James Milne and bought the Allan vSmith farm and is there now. The town hall was built in 1875, and the sons of temperance contributed part of the cost of erection. William Plaver built a dwelling on the east side of the road se\eral years ago, and carried on the tailoring business until his health failed. lie died in 1887. John Easterbrook carried on the store until two years ago, when he gave up to his son, who is still at the business, and the father has built a dwelling on the east side of the road. Neil Mc- Millan went into the harness making there in i875,and III it ^^ .li 5 jn i 76 HISTORY OF NASAGIVVEYA. Still continues at it. Ilcrc tiic Aorriciiltural Society has jn^cncrally held their exhibition, it \va'^ established in the year 1854. MOFFATT. Cliarles King was the originator of this Village, in i8|3 he built himself a shop on the south corner of Lot 16, in the 2nd Concession, and carried on a general business where you could get anything made or re- paired froni a daining needle to a bootjack. There was a buildinir on the west corner which was used as a school or meeting house. About the year 1854 John Kean opened a blacksmith shop, either in the shop King built or in a building close by, and carried on business there until 1855, King making the wood -work and Kean doini"rk church there, built in 1877' ' " DARIiY\ ILLE. ' • . ■' . . * The commencement of this Village dates back to the year 1837, when John Taylor purchased thirt}' acres of Lot 21, in the 4th Concession, from John ■iA aff niSTf>RY f)F NASAGIWKYA. 77 Sherwood and built a d\vcllin(r liouso thereon. This was the extent of iiis operations. . » Etlvvard Daihv l)()iif];ht him out in 1S38, and with his son Robert opened a vvaiL^on inaker''s and ])hicline was put in to {lri\-e the macliinery. Jt was here the Stephenson plow was lirst made and every farmer had to have one, and now nobody will have them. There is a store and post- ol]lce here now and a blacksmith shop. CIIAPTKR \I1. SCHOOLS. ''pIlE first school law I have met with is an Act passed 1^ in the year i Scjy, providini^ for District schools in the followin;^ places ( theie may be earlier enactments l:)nt 1 have not seen them ), viz:— Sandwich, London Town- ship, York, Niaid regulations for their school, and to report their proceedings annually to th.e I~)istrict Trustees who sliall control the use of books. And Parliament also voted a sum of money to assist in carrying out this scheme, and apportioned to this District six hundred pounds, no school to receive more than twenty ]:)ounds. In 1820 « parts of this Act were repealed jnul the grant to public schools reduced so that the Gore District v)nly received two hundred and fifty pounds, and no teacher of a pub- lic school to receive more than twelve pounds ten shillings of Government > during the winter. This was the first beginning of Section No. 4. In 1S43 a school house was built on the west corner of Lot 28, in the 4th Concession, and tne first teacher was the man Stevenson, the old soldier. ^ II [vmimwmmmmmmrm »4 HISTORY OF NASAGIWEYA. lii There was also a good respectable log school house built in No. i, on Lot 4, in the 3rd Concession. There was a union school with Esqucsing on Lot 6, and also a union with Pusiinch at what is now Corwhin, a por- tion of the south corner had been intended for a union with Flamboro', but was never organized. This was the extent of school accommodation for the township, and any one looking over the map will see that some people were suffering, but the majority were satisfied, and so the thing went until 1856, when Pusiinch with- drew from the union, and then the struggle began. Those who w here at a disadvantage put in their claims and the Council was harrassed on every side, those who had no schools wanted them, and those who had them wanted to keep them, and it took the people and the Council six years to agree on a plan, and on the first day of December, 1862, the by-law w^as passed dividing the township into the nine Sections as the}- now stand. And we have now peace and quietness on this matter, and not only this, but w-e have a snuof little sum of money invested for the benefit of our schools derived from the clergy reserves; over nine thousand dollars. And as some of our young people, and some not very young either, have very little knowledge of the history of these reserves, 1 will here give a short sketch of their history:- -In 1791 the British Parliament passed an Act setting apart one-seventh of the land in Canada for the maintenance of a Protestant clergy, and as the country began to be settled the question arose, who were these Protestant clergrv. One denomination wanted to claim the whole and others wanted a share, and then the strife began, I think about the year 1825. In the year 1S27 a bill passed the Legislative As- sembly on a vote of 22 to 6, to appropriate the proceeds HISTORY OF NASAGIWEYA. *s of the sale of these lands either to education or for internal improvements, but thi.s bill was rejected by the Legislative Council, in 1839 another bill passed the Assemblv without e\'en a division, and this shared the same fate as its predecessor, and so the fight went on for several years. In the year 1835 a V)ill P'l^'^t.'d the Assembly to devote these proceeds to educational pur- poses by a majority of 40 to 4, but was again rejected by the Legislative Council. This thing was repeated in the next session. Then the Legislative Coimcil, after working at the matter for some time, got a measure passed through both houses by a majority of one to i'.ivite the House of Commons to legislate on the subject, but thi^ Act was disallowed, but the end is not yet. Xor was it until in 1855 ^^^^^ ^^^^ matter was settled by our Parliament in passing an Act to divide the proceeds of the sale of these lands among the town- ships according to population, and in the year 1857 Nasagiweya received the sum of £62c) los. 6<1. from this fund, and this sum was invested at eleven per cent. I have stated already that the M:hool law of 1843 provided for Township Superintendentsto be appointed by the District Councils. William McAll was the first appointed for this townshi|), and held the oflice until he died in 1849. And in 1S50 Angus Stewart was ap- pointed. This year the new Municipd law came in force. District Councils were abolished and County and Township Councils to )k their place, and the power to appoint Township Superinten(ients was vested in County Councils, and Angus Stewart got it every year till he resigned in 1856, and in June of that year the Rev. A. J. McAuley was appointed, he continued in office until he died in April, 1864, and in June of that year Robert Menzies was appointed, he held the oflicc i ill 'I n ii r •i 9 II I r 'f, -■ J'-\ I S6 HISTORY OF NASAGIWEYA. two years and then Dr. Robertson got the appointment, and in January 1867 Rev. James Little was appointed and continued in otMce until the law was chano-ed in 1871. In the early part of that year Robert Littfc was appointed County Inspector; he held the olHce until he died in the early part of the year 1885. And J. S. Deacon was appointed in September of that year and still has the office. I have in a former page of this article taken the liberty to speak pretty freely as to the qualification of the teachers and the condition of some of the buildings they had to occupy, and I feel like making an apology here for both the people and the teachers. A xQvy large proportion of our early settlers were very poor when they came here and their lirst object was to make a home and get bread for their fam.ilies, and in many case - their own homes were no better than the worst school houses I have described. And as to the qualifi- cation of the teachers, thev havl no way of knowing anything about this, any person coming and offering to teach the school and would do it cheap enough was likely to get the situation, and it simply amounted to this: — The people were poor so they had to do with poorly equipped school houses, poor teachers, and poorly paid, fifty cents per month for each pupil anbell built a steam saw' mill on Lot 24, in the 2nd Concession, ran it a few years, then failed. Robert Black bought the lot and saw *mlll, ran it a few years, then mo\'ed tbe mill down to Lot 21, where he still runs it and also runs a chopping mill for grinding coarse grain. Old Hilton, when he came back built a steam mill on Lot 25, 1st Con., about i860, brokedown about 1863, and I think some of the machinery \\as taken to run a saw mill on Lot 6, In the 7th Concession, but I have no dates. David Carglll built a steam saw mill on the south corner of Lot 13, in the 4th Concession, in the year '■ )\ I t j (JO HISTORY OF NASAGIWEYA. 1857, turned it over to his son Ilcniy about the year i860. Ilenrv did a hu'f^c business for several vears until he purchased the Easterl)ro()k mill property (as seen above). This same man is now mend^er for the House of Commons for one of the Ridin^^s of Bruce. James Milne built a steam saw mill on Lot 18, in the 3rd Con., in 18S1, and David, his brother, is still running it. There is also in connection with this mill a machine for . dressing and matching hardwood ilooring. There is one more saw mill that I had forgot, Angus McKenzie built one on Lot 11, in the 5th Concession, about 1852, but it never did much business. This is all the per- manent saw mills I recollect, some of these have changed hands several times, of ^^■hich I have not given an account. Alexander McCann also built a woollen factory in the year 1S47, and run it himself for some years. After this it was rim by several different persons, and whether as owners or tenants I am not \cry sure. In 1853 it was in the hands of Gledhill and Mcintosh for some vears. In 1858 Thomas Davidson and sons. In 1863 William Walker is assessed for it, and since that I have no record of it. Daniel Vickerman bought it several , years ago and still owns it. This factory is a little east of Campbellville. ■ .. . OTHER INDUSTRIES. In 1S81 Dr. Robertson, of Milton, purchased the lime kilns on the line between the 6th and 7th Conces- sions, and has two large kilns burning nearly the whole year^ shippinu" the lime to Toronto, and is also shippinAGI\VEVA. 91 is also doInf( a large business in stone, both thTsscd and in the rough. Tlic Toronto Pressed Hriek and Terra Cotta Com- j)any have a large establishment on the 7th Concession, and make a very superior (jualitv of brick for both plain and ornamental architecture. They employ about f(M*ty hands at tlie brick works and from ten to fifteen at quarrying and shi]^ping stone. ' • ; •• These last three establishments are on the C P. Railway and can ship their produce with very little handling. ' - * : > The Terra Cotta Company, at Campbellville, are just commencing operations and expect to do an exten- sive business. They have to draw their clay from the Township of Nelson, a distance of about four miles, to the place of manufacture so they can place the brick on the cars and thus save them from injurv by drawing: them in waggons on rough roads. : hi CHAPTER VX. CHURCHES. *^ ' The history of the churches must of necessity be short. 1 have been anxious to find out what denomina- tion first preached the Gospel in this township, and a friend has kindly lent me a copy of the history of Method- ism in Canada, by Plavter, and here I find that one Thomas Demorest and Rowly I ley land entered Nasa- givveya in the latter part of the year 1823. They used to preach in the house of William Trudgen once in two weeks; they were sent by the I'nited States conference and travelled over ten townships. HeN'land had a twin brother who also travelled througl; here sometimes. ; V IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) y /. k /J^i^ Cj" y. i/.A ^h. 1.0 I.I IIM IIIII2.5 :ilii32 12,0 1.8 1.25 1.4 1.6 ^ 6" ► .5^ W^ V9 •■ VI °v /«« Photographic Sciences Corporation s ^^ iV 39, the old lecords are missinut 1S36. Thev bad no ministereil stationed liere for some years e\en after the church was built, but I liase heard from ihe old settlers that thev were occasionally su}:)plied by minis- ters from adJoininiLr stations, amon<;- whom weie the foUowinix: — Meldium, Wardrobe, Harrie, Fer<^uson, and Riiitoul, and also students from CoHej^e. The earliest record at liautl is a^ follows: — At \asa*;iwe\a the seventeenth da\- of May, 1S39, <>n which tlav the session of the Presbvterian Church, met, after sermons in Enulisji and Galic by the Ke\. Peter Fenji.son and Kev. William Rintoul was constituted witli pia\<.r. I'resent — Re\ . Peter Ferguson, Moileratcn ; Rev. Wil- liam Flintoul, Messrs. T(»hn Hell, [ohn McKinnon and 11 •.!l I 94 JflSTORY OF NASA(;nVKY.\. John McAlpine preparatory to the (hspensalioii of tlie fiord's Suppei-, the follo\vinell. The membership at this time was fort\ - five. In 1S56 Richard Moffalt and Archibiild McPhail were a})pointed elders. Mr. McAuley died in April, 1864, and was succeeded in the pastorate bv the Re\ . James Little on (October ;;i, i8()6. Durini^ ?vlr. Little's I IlI.'^tORY OF NASA(inVEYA. 95 pastorate the eldership was increased hy the addition of Messrs. James Aj^nevv, David Henderson, and Jeremiah Smith. The congrej^ation, at Camphellville, was organized, this last event took place on the ei<{hteenth day of March, 1S69. I'^ifty-eiij^ht members left the Nasa^iwcya conorregation and went to Camp- hell villc. Mr. Little left in April, 1875, and the Kev. 11. II. McPhtison took his })lace in November of the same year, lie remainetl nntil the \car 1S81, then he left, and tiic Kev. John Neil, l>. A., was inducted into the pastoi-ate in 18S2. Mr. Neil left in 1884. In the month of Jnuc, 188^, the present pastor, Ke\'. A. Hlaii", took char^^a* of the church and con^^rcgation. Tlic {jcrowlh of the consrre\fter tliis the conf^rej^ation recei\'ed the ministraticms of Rev. Mr. Hi^j^j^^inson for a while, after him the Rev. Mr. Houston. Then Rev. ^Ir. Hall was stationed to supply both Nelson and Nasaj^-iweva, next Re\. Mr. Massie, after him Rev. Mr. J^evan. I'hen Rev. Mr. Motlurwell, and now Rev. Mr. Morcton. I'ho first church edilice, which 1 i w >r. UISTORY (>1" NASAG.WEYA. was a franu' ])uil(IIii;^, was rcmm-cd in 1870, and the j")icscnt substantial stone buikling erected in its place. I)lSCir*LES OI- ( IIKIS I". This denomination huilt a very neat little church at Brook ville in ]tS7o. Thev have no re paid, includinLT tliis Near's assessmenf, Is ^^27,775, and two small instalments \ et to collect after this year. The first money I can *;et anv account of as beinor expeiuled on the roads is in the year iS^6, at the second ^ mcetin;jf of the Hoard of Commissioners for that year, the Town Clerk was ordered to procure four picks and three hammers an(.Mn<:f Hiu's for assniilt itnd halt'.Mv. There was also rectived from lohn Hmns, nf lCsqiiesiii«r^ ten shillinjLTs, i)ut on what account the record does not say. Tin's is iju- tlr^t le- ceipt 'if aii\ money there is anv accoimt of in all the old records. The Road Commissioners expended £'7 12s. 6(l..,leavinj4' a balance on hand of i\\ 12s. ^d. In the next year they expiMuled V2 13s. Sd. half peniiy, .-till carr\ino t' i ajs. of the old balance to a future ac- count, but there is no record of its expenditure after- ward that 1 have seen. illv At nior >nd j ar. tnd ies on The next financial statement isin 1840, rcceij)ts seven ])ounds nine shillin«^s and one-penny half-penny, and the balance en hand is four }ience half-penny. Hut in two years more the I'^istiict Council had power to levy a tax f<^r the roatls and then we i;c)t a little more assist- ance. Now our ex]XMidituie on icnids will avera<>"e about $r,ooo a vear. The salaries our first Township C^)uncil allowed their officers in i 8^0 was Clerk, .£'7 10&.; Treasurer, t'6; three Assessors, i'3 e;ich, the township lK*in<^- di\ ided into three parts; Collector, £'8, 'wo Audi- tors, i' I each; Superintendent of Education, i'8; and theii ovN n pay 3s. c)d, per dav, and this is all the Coim- cil took for several years. The first hewed log liouse was built by vSolomon Wallace, on Lot 11, in the 4th Concession, in 1834; first frame house was l:)uilt by William Trutlc^en on Lot 21, in the 3rd Concession, in 1833; first stone house was built by Thomas Easter- brook, on Lot 18, in the 3rd Concession, in 1841; first brick was built by William McCurdy, on Lot 12, in the 2nd Concession, in 1854. John Scott, on Lot i, in :u oi HISTORY «)l N \S.\(;|\VKVA. the yth Concession, huilt one about this lime, lait I ;nn told tills was the first. An Act was passetl on tiie se\ enteenth of ,\pril, iSiy, allowinj^ tiie united counties of W'entworth and IJallon to elect a meniher tn PaiHanient. The lirst. shop for the sale of an\ nierchandi'-e \s in in 184S, at that time Willi.-mi \fcCall <»pened a store in his tlwellin<^- iiouse on l.ot ^, mi the ^th Concession. The nuinher of rate])avers on tiie Hist assessfiient I'oll was 15, the whole j)opiilation \va< 1S6. In 1S28, that is the second assessment, the numherof ratepayeis were 61, })opul:ition 2|2; in 183- the numher of ralepayer> were 113, and population [82. Koi Mie present year the numher of ratepayers are 5c)y, tot il population 2,626. Assessment \aluatioii of property $971,35*2. 1 have given a skcich of everyihin posed to incur. With many tliaiiks t<. tli..sc who havt- JissiNiol inr ill this enterprise, I l)rinj> this little volume to a close, an«l if the reader finds as much satisfaction in readin- it as I have in compiling it, wc shall all he plea^'cd. , r ^ j. XOKKISIl, Septemhe; i6th, 1S89. I MEMBERS OF THE CORPORATION FUR EACH YE^K SIN >♦<- YKAR. 1S50 is"5i iS5i 1S50 1 s;'5(.i 18(11 180^ 18/4 186 c; I Soil i8(')7 iS<^>8 1 870 1 87 1 .87. 1S74 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 1.88 1 1883 ISS4 18S5 isso 1SS7 I8S.S 1S89 TiKKvr:. COl .\(II.1.( I'iS. Alex. Mi'Xatightdn T. Eastcibrriok Alex. MrN'auyhtoii T. ICastcrbrook (t Jiiines McNair A, Cuinpbc'll Jiiincs McNair A. Campbell 11. II. Kcaii it John llamsoy «• i( «( <« K Jatne.s Menzies «< sbna Norrisli Thomas lilliot Allan K:ini,>-c'y I )()>hiia Noiti'^h I * Jdhn Black 1 I A. Campbell ' ■ James McNair I "'riioma^ I'llliot John llamsey Thomas lilliot >'< *James Men/irs II II David Wheelihan ii <« -tie 'Ihoi las li:x It I;imes \ 1 homas liasterbnxik Thomas Elliot 1 * 1 isliua t 4 David Caruiil 1 t V. Can rii(>ma> i-^lli(it lanies )()>liua Norrish John IJlack •* 1 1 Joshua Noirish Thi'ma> I'^Hint i :; 1 " James McNair "llenrv C-'arir'H 1 1 h 1 iainin )ohn K«Mn Jolu> Kai:i>.ey Duncan Cillics (jeo. Norrish ^)avul Wheelihan John McPhedran IV'ter (ioiild David Hutcheon I'eter Savers David Hutcheon Thoinas Moore John Dr. N Cilin : Wjlham D.uid 1 Jose pi loshua James *Our Deputy ,- Reeve was refused his scat in the County Council in 1S74 for want of a sufficient 1 EACH YEUi SINCE THE MUNICIPAL LAW CAME IN FORCE. r COl .\CILi.( lis. alters In istii- Thni uis ICastcrbrook lames Walters ^Icrlinx KUiot k 1 )shiia Loii^j;- iirjLfill V. Campbell 4 i Klliot lanus Weir orrish .l;i(k ■()! risl) i-:i;i<.t i ■: eNair :!iri>ill ! H^ 1 iainiii H. Kcan i.e.in 1 An^jiis Stewart A. Campbell <( W. Armstrf)!!*; Joshua N'orrish Arch. Camiibell James McNair 15. H. Kear Arch. Cami)bell )i)lin Uamsey (Ifo. liasterbronk nii.sev i John Keaii << ( iiliies orrish << it Dr. Winii It I)a\ ill Ilutelu'im leelihaii (..'oliti Mcl'liail Wilham Walsoii li Ciiiiu Caim-rooii IRKASrUKH. Thomas Kasterhrook 1 1 (Jeo. Eastcrbrook II It II John I'lasterbrook It <( ni.iiahl McXair Jolui Ma> t»;rbn)ok il II II I' il II II II 11 11 t< II tl il l» il tl l« il il II ti il 11 II II II for want of a sufficient number of names on the assessment roll.