HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-00019"PICKERING TOWNSHIP HISTORICAL SOCIETY
PATHMASTER
AUTUMN EDITION VOLUME 2 NUMBER 1
WHAT'S INSIDE
A painting by amateur artist Ebenezer Birrell, one of the most prominent citizens of Pickering
Township in the middle years of the 19th century, has become one of the best-loved Canadian
paintings of his era.
Few families have survived in Pickering/Ajax as long as the O'Connors. The sign on their barn
tells it all: ""The O'Connors Since 1832."" Part 1 of a 2-part report tells of the establishment of
the family and of their Century Farm ""Maplehurst""
One of the earliest settlers in Pickering Township was Noadiah Woodruff who entertained British
troops in his tavern on Kingston Road during the War of 1812. Pickering weather, not always
appreciated by local residents, inspired one sometime poet, Fred Housser, in 1916,
to compose averse to commemorate a perfect day in May.
Oshawa's first settler owed a debt of gratitude to Pickering's first settler when he encountered
Wabbekisheco, Chief of the Mississauga Indians.
A stroll through Whitevale Cemetery reveals much about the past of this Pickering hamlet now
designated as a Heritage District.
Names in the News: Ebenezer Birrell
* * *Painting Pickering's Landscape * * *
by John W. Sabean
Illustration - Good Friends. Mid-19th century. Oil on canvas. 58.4 x 71.1 cm. Art Gallery of
Hamilton, gift of Mrs. R.N. Steiner in memory of her mother, Mrs. L C. Dillon.
Charles Fothergill lamented in 1834 from his Pickering Village home that he did not have
""one single neighbor in the country who has any pretensions to being an Amateur [painter]
in this delightful art.""1 In fact, in that very year, Ebenezer Birrell (1800-1888), an amateur
landscape painter from Scotland emigrated to Upper Canada and settled on the 7th Concession
of Pickering, just a few miles north of fellow artist Fothergill.
Birrell was born in Kinrosshire, Scotland, in April 1800, to John Birrell, a manufacturer of
parchment and vellum. The business had been in the family for several centuries—at least back
to the sixteenth century— and Ebenezer was trained by his father in the trade.2
However, it was his older brother David who was to carry on the family tradition, while Ebenezer
learned another occupation—surveying—which he practised while he still lived in Scotland.
He appears to have been a well-educated man with an interest in both art and literature,
and perhaps in the end the surveying business was not sufficient to sustain his interest.
At any rate, at the age of 34, he said good-bye to family and homeland and set sail for the
new world.3
Birrell quickly established himself once he arrived in Pickering Township. He purchased Lots 9
and 10 of Concession 7 early in October 1834, and immediately began to construct a log home.
4 It was not long before he became active in community affairs. By 1839, he was already elected
as a Commissioner of the Court of Requests.5 Later he was to serve as a Justice of the Peace,
as president of the Pickering Agricultural Society and as founding president of the Ontario
County Agricultural Society,6 as local superintendent of education, as an elder and session
clerk of the Claremont Presbyterian Church, and as a Lieutenant-Colonel of the Third Battalion of
the Ontario Militia.7
Farming, however, was Birrell's chief occupation in Pickering. The agricultural census of 1851 is
missing, but that of 1861 shows him to be a very successful farmer.8 He married Janet Mackey
(or Mackie), and with her had five children before her untimely death in 1846. Margaret,
Ebenezer's sister, came out to Canada to help him raise his family; he did not remarry.
In time he replaced the old log house with a new one which he named ""Maple Hall.""
Despite all this activity Birrell found some time to paint. How extensive his output was is not now
known, but some indication of it may be gained from an examination
of five small books in which he jotted down notes of his various activities.9 The five are all that
is left of 2 7 that he himself recorded; the notes cover a period from about 1825 to about 1880.
Only recently was I shown these books and I have made only the briefest of perusals.
Among their contents are: surveyors notes, an account of his voyage from Scotland to
Upper Canada in 1834, lists of his paintings, and pencil and watercolour sketches of sites he
visited in the Scottish Lowlands.
To date I have found ten of Birrell's paintings: five landscapes, two portraits, and three Biblical
scenes.10 The Art Gallery of Hamilton owns one of each genre, Good Friends, Portrait of a Man,
and The Raising of Lazarus; the Art Gallery of Windsor owns The Village of Emmaus,
the other five (Maverick Castle, Pass of"
"Tummel, Taymouth Castle, Loch Achray, Maria Regina Scotorum, and Samuel and Eli) are in
the hands of private collectors, a descendant of Birrell's and the descendant of a former
neighbour of Birrell's. Only one of these paintings, Good Friends, is an original creation
depicting Upper Canadian scenery.11 The Biblical scenes and the portrait of Mary Queen of
Scots were copies of paintings by other artists and were probably done by Birrell as learning
exercises. The landscapes of the Scottish countryside were done first on the scene as pencil or
pencil and watercolour sketches and later ""painted up"" in oils on canvas. In at least one case
the painting was completed in Scotland (Kilaverick Castle in 1825) before Birrell came to
Canada, but the others were probably all done here in Pickering based on his sketching notes.
12 It is unlikely that Birrell brought any of his paintings with him when he immigrated to Upper
Canada in 1834, but a few may have been carried out by his sister Margaret when she came
out in the 1840s.
Good Friends is by far the best known of Birrell's works.13 It was ""discovered"" in the
mid-1960s, but the story behind its discovery I have not yet been able to piece together.
It is very popular among visitors to the Art Gallery of Hamilton, especially among children,
so I was told, who love the ""square cows"". So popular is it, and so well recognized that the
gallery has reproduced it on their membership/ donor brochure. These square cows, along with
the horses, sheep, and geese, I remind everybody, are Pickering animals, raised on Birrell's
farm. Good Friends has been exhibited widely across Canada and in the United States.
One of the exhibitions was called ""Masterpieces of Canadian Art"" and was held at the
Art Gallery of Ontario in 1967.
One commenter said of Good Friends: ""It is a painting of the by-ways, but the sincerity of the
artist and the appeal of the familiar surroundings no doubt impressed his farming neighbours
more than would a superb Rubens or Cuyp pastoral. Paintings which use indigenous
subject-matter in this way are the real essence of the vernacular in art.""14
Good Friends was probably one of the paintings Birrell exhibited in 1857 at the
Upper Canada Provincial Exhibition. He also is known to have shown some of his
Scottish landscapes at the same time. We also know that Birrell entered some of his paintings
in a show in Whitby in 1876, but we have no record of other exhibitions in which he may have
participated in between.15
Incidently in the Whitby show one of his four landscapes was entitled Landscape With Cattle,
could this be what we now call Good Friends? Birrell also acted as an art judge both for the
Upper Canada Art Council in 1854, and at the Upper Canada Provincial Exhibitions in 1854 and
1855.16
Another writer claims that ""Birrell's direct approach to his subject matter, his vibrant colour and
his ability to capture the texture and play of light in the early autumn foliage mark him out as a
fascinating forerunner of Canadian landscape painting.""17
Birrell died 27 February 1888, two months short of his 88th birthday. He was buried in the
Claremont Union Cemetery, directly across the road from the birthplace of Tom Thomson.
For their help in preparing this article I must thank Tobi Bruce and Christopher Jackson of the
Art Gallery of Hamilton, Charles C. Hill of the National Gallery of Art, Dennis Reid of the
Art Gallery of Ontario, Robert McKaskell of the Art Gallery of Windsor, and 2 private collectors
who wish to remain anonymous.
NOTES:
1 Letter to C. Daly, 18 June 1834, from Pickering Mills. Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library,
MS Collection 140, vol 24, fo 90.
2 Miller (1973), pp. 302-303, provides much information about the Birrell parchment business,
citing some old sources.
3 A 39-page diary of his Atlantic crossing is still extant.
4 He later purchased the north 1/2 of Lot 11, Concession 7, and part of Lot 10, Concession 8.
5 Beers (1877), p. ix.
6 Beers (1877), p. xii.
7 Not the 4th Battalion as in some sources. His commissioning certificate is reproduced in
McKay(1961), p. 152.
8 P. 24, #41. Some of the data: 160 acres under cultivation; value of farm: $1400; value of
implements: $500; value of livestock: $1045.
9 The notebooks are now in the hands of Birrell's great granddaughter.
10 I have seen 9 of the 10, all except The Village of Emmus, but Robert McKaskell of the ARW
was kind enough to send me a card which reproduces this work.
11 Harper(1977),pp. 107,166-167.
12 Inscription on Kilaverick Castle. ""In 1822 from a painting by J.F.Williams Edin. & copied
1825 by E. Birrell.""
13 Reproduced in colour in Harper (1974), p. 75.
14 Harper (1974), p. 5.
15 Entry in notebook: ""Memm 7 Sept 1876. Sent to enter paintings at the Exhibition South
Ontario Whitby 4 landscapes...""
16 Harper(1963),p. 31;Miller(1973), p. 304.
17 Lord (1974), p. 69.
REFERENCES:
Fothergill, Charles. 1811-1837. ""Rough Copies of Letters written by Charles Fothergill to
Various Persons From the Year 1811 to 1837"". Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library,
MS Collection 140, vols 23 & 24.
Gauslin, Lillian M. 1974. From Paths to Planes: A Story of the Claremont Area. Claremont: the
author. Pp. 222-223.
Harper, J. Russell. 1963. ""Ontario Painters 1846-1867"", National Gallery of Canada Bulletin.
1:16-31.
Harper, J. Russell. 1974. A People'sArt: Primitive, Naive, Provincial, and Folk Painting in
Canada. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.
Harper, J.Russell. 1977. Painting in Canada: A History. 2nd ed. Toronto: University of Toronto
Press.
Illustrated Historical Atlas of the County of Ontario, Ont. Toronto: J.H. Beers & Co, 1877;cited as
Beers(1877).
Lord, Barry. 1974. The History of Painting in Canada: Toward a People's Art. Toronto: NC
Press.
McKay, William A. 1961. The Pickering Story. Pickering: The Township of Pickering Historical
Society. Pp. 151-152; 201- 202.
McLean, Mrs. Irven and Beatrice R. McLean. 1960. Greenwood Through the Years. Greenwood:
The Greenwood Farm Forum. P. 80.
Miller, Robert A. 1973. The Ontario Village of Brougham: Past! Present! Future? Brougham:
the author. Pp. 302-305.
Wood, William R. 1911. Past Years in Pickering. Toronto: William Briggs. P. 169.
LAST ISSUE'S
What's it?
by Dave Marlowe
ANSWER :
The owner of this artifact does not know what it is, and no one has come forward with a
definitive suggestion. One reasonable solution has been proposed. Could this be a type of
button hook?
The wooden end is fairly obviously a handle. The flexible metal end and loop are not strong
enough to button shoes, but the tool may have been designed to button shirts or dresses:.
Doing up the numerous small buttons used on clothing in the past was a tedious and delicate
task—could this tool have provided help?
THIS ISSUE'S
What's it?
This month we have another undefined ""What's It"", and the owner seeks our help in guessing
its use. The main body of this item is wood. The overall dimensions are: 14 cm wide by 11 cm
high. The ridged or corrugated section appears to be of some manufactured material.
The article was purchased at an auction in Claremont. The previous owner did not know its use,
either, nor did any of the interested bystanders!
Can a reader of Pathmaster solve this mystery?
Items submitted by Jill Wollin of Claremont.
2"
"THE O'CONNORS SINCE 1832
By Pat McCauley
For many years when travelling on Lakeridge Road, I noticed an attractive farm complex on the
west side at Rossland Road. The solid stone house, the red sheds and barns, the herd of
Holstein cows, were a familiar sight. Most intriguing was lettering on a barn proclaiming
""O'CONNORS SINCE 1832"".
My curiosity led me to Marguerite O'Connor, resident of Pickering Village and a
great-granddaughter of Denis, the first O'Connor settler in Pickering. Marguerite is the
keeper of the family memorabilia and genealogy, and she shared her family history with me.
She has her mother's christening dress. About four feet long, it is displayed in a glass-fronted
case. On the mat around the border of this case, the names of babies christened in the dress
have been beautifully scripted by an artistic family member, Brian Dalton.
The history of the O'Connors in Pickering began when Denis, with his friend George O'Leary,
set sail from County Cork, Ireland to arrive in Upper Canada about 1831. Denis, born in 1803
had three brothers, John, Jeremiah, and Daniel, and a sister Mary. In a few years Denis' siblings
also came to Pickering with the exception of John. Mary would wed George O'Leary.
According to family tradition, Denis began life in Canada by working for Quaker families.
By 1832 he had acquired the south half of Lot 1, Concession 3. It was a good lot with a branch of
the Lynde Creek on the east side. There were many maples on the property and so it was
named ""Maplehurst."" The lot had been owned by Asa Danforth from 1799 to 1801,
after which time Asa returned to the States, releasing the acreage. Denis cleared his land and
built a house. Whether it was a log or frame house is
not known, but by 1840 the land which had been purchased from Robert Sullivan was completely
paid for.1
George O'Leary's sister, Mary, arrived from Ireland about 1835 and on 14 November 1836
she and Denis were married. They had three children: Denis, who became Archbishop of
Toronto; Mary Ann, who became a nun (Sister Magdalen); and Julia, who did not survive
childhood. Mary died the same year her last child was born, possibly in childbirth.
Mary's burial site is not known by the family. They surmise it was on the farm—farm burials
were a common practice in those times—or in St. Wilfred's cemetery, although no stone
remains. It caused some consternation for the Basilian Fathers years later when the resting
place of the mother of Archbishop Denis O'Connor could not be ascertained.
In 1847 Denis married Bridget O'Callaghan. Bridget's family had immigrated from Whitechurch,
Ireland and settled in Albion Township. As a young bride, Bridget moved into the
storey-and-a-half stone house which had been built in 1845. Denis and Bridget had ten children:
John, Margaret (Sister Magdalena), Ellen, George, Elizabeth, Julia (Sister Evangelista),
Catherine (Sister Dionysia), Teresa, William, and Mary Agnes (Sister Mary of the Angels).
The O'Connor family was growing prosperous because of high demand for wheat in Canada
and the United States.
The Crimean War from 1853 to 1856 and the American Civil War, 1861-1865, caused a world
shortage of wheat. The Reciprocity Treaty between Canada and the United States from 1854 to
1867 permitted free trade between the two countries. The price for Canadian wheat doubled
and tripled. The high value of wheat continued through the 1850s but the appearance of a wheat
midge in the 1860s, bringing lower crop yields, combined with the cessation of the Treaty in
1867, ended the boom.
One replacement crop that offered possibilities for expansion was barley. Canadian barley
was considered superior to the American-grown variety, especially for beer production.
Another crop in demand was hay, particularly in Toronto. Horse-drawn loads of hay were taken
daily into the city.2 This trade continued well into the 1930s.
Denis and Bridget were among the founding members of St. Francis de Sales Church in
Pickering Village. Denis lived a long life and died aged ninety in 1893. Bridget died in 1901,
aged 77. They are buried in St. Francis de Sales cemetery on Notion Road, now a part of Ajax.
About 1888 Denis turned the farm over to his son George who had married Anne Conlon in
1886. By now the pioneer days were over and farm life had become relatively easier for the
farmer. By 1871 new equipment such as ploughs, harrows, cultivators, and
mowing machines were appearing. Steam-powered threshers were introduced in the 1890s.
These were moved from farm to farm at harvest time. Threshing was done as a ""bee""
with farmers moving with the thresher until all crops were cut. 3
George O'Connor had a mixed farm operation. His grandchildren remember his having
""some cows."" There was also a large orchard which took up the south end of the property on
either side of the house. George and Anne had six children: Denis, John, Arthur, Kathleen,
Rose, and George. George Senior suffered from heart problems in later years and in 1913
he and Anne moved to Toronto, leaving son Arthur to manage the farm. George died in 1922
while Anne lived until 1944. A happy memory for their grandchildren was Anne's recounting of
fairy tales she had read in the Mail and Empire of Redi the Fox.
In 1914 the Campbellford, Lake Ontario and Western Railway purchased land on the
northeast limit of their lot. This line, leased for 999 years by Canadian Pacific Rail was the
brainchild of Cobourg entrepreneurs. It ran from Perth in the east, through Belleville, Cobourg,
Port Hope, and Oshawa, north to Brougham, then west to Agincourt, carrying goods to the
Toronto market.4 O'Connor cattle were driven to Audley Station and transported to the
Toronto Stock Yards via this line. Arthur married Margaret Dalton in 1916. They had ten children:
Marguerite, Patricia, George, Morgan, Helen, Denis, Geraldine, Terence, Maurice, and Moira.
The story of the O'Connor family of Pickering will be continued in the next issue of Pathmaster.
???????????
NOTES
With thanks to the O'Connor family, especially Marguerite. Much of the information in this article
is traditional family lore, repeated through O'Connor generations.
1 Original documents in possession of Marguerite O'Connor.
2 Leo A. Johnson, 1973, History of the County of Ontario 1615-1875 (Whitby: Corp. of the
County of Ontario), pp. 199-201.
3 Ibid.,p. 57.
4 Nick Mika, et al., 1986, Illustrated History of Canadian Railways (Belleville: Mika Pub. Co.),
p. 187.
3"
"On the Trail of
NOADIAH WOODRUFF
by Henry M. Gawman
Noadiah Woodruff's tavern stands at 1850 Kingston Road, east of Brock Road, in the Town of
Pickering. But don't go there for a drink because the last round was served 180 years ago.
The last soldier having departed, the last civilian guest having been wished ""Godspeed,""
the tavern reverted to the home that stands today.
The Woodruff family arrived in Pickering about 1800. Noadiah built the present structure in
1808 on Concession 2, Lot 17.1 Whether it was intended as a tavern or a home is not clear.
Any dwelling may serve as a travellers' rest in an emergency, and the emergency was real.
War with the United States began in June 1812, and American and British forces soon clashed
at Niagara. Canada was defended there by British regulars, augmented by Canadian militia
and Native Indians. There were victories and defeats on both sides.
During the first winter the shores of lakes Ontario and Erie echoed to sounds of shipbuilders as
vessels were constructed to gain control of the Great Lakes. When the sound of hammers and
saws ceased, the sound of cannon rolled over the waters. On 17 April 1813, the Americans
captured and burned York in an attempt to prevent the British from completing a 30-gun frigate
called the Sir Isaac Brock. The retreating defenders burned the vessel and fired the fort's
powder magazine. As the battle for York raged, Woodruff's tavern, only 35 kilometres away,
was in full swing.
If York was burning, what bastion might fall next? British soldiers soon marched by the tavern
door on their way to Kingston. If the Americans had followed or ventured up Duffin's Creek or the
Rouge River, the few settlers (just 387 by 1815) could hardly have prevented them.
Prior to the war the settlers had already begun to hold meetings to discuss township affairs.
The first such meeting was held either 4 June 1801, according to one writer,2 or in 1803,
according to another.3 Both agree that the joint Pickering-Whitby meeting was held at the home
of Samuel Munger, Lot 16, Concession 2. Munger and Woodruff were neighbours,
and both were tavern keepers. At the first meeting for Pickering alone, held in 1811,
Noadiah Woodruff was elected a Pathmaster.
Woodruff was born in Pennsylvania about 1773, on the eve of the American War of
Independence. He came to Canada with the Society of Friends (or Quakers), and was probably
a Quaker himself. The Quakers were generally loyal to the British Crown. Noadiah had a brother
Harvey and three sisters. One sister, Melinda, married Jordan Post and moved to Toronto.
Betsy married a Mr. Carr, and Clarissa married Jabez Lynde, an early settler in Whitby.
Noadiah's wife was Charity Powell; they had nine or ten children. The Woodruffs settled on
Lot 17, Concession 2.
A small plot on the east side of Brock Road, between Finch Avenue and Concession 3,
is land known as Woodruff's Cemetery. In one corner of the sizeable area there are two grave
stones: Zelotes H. Woodruff (c l796-1867) and Annie (1799-1857), wife of Harvey Woodruff.
The relationship of Zelotes to Noadiah is uncertain. But where are the graves of Noadiah and
Charity?
From cradle to grave can be quite a distance and much can happen along the way.
From Pennsylvania to Pickering was the journey of this patriarch. Beyond that there is the
old house at 1850 Kingston Road as testimony to his life, and brief references in old books.
????????????
NOTES:
l. Morley(1970),p. 1.
2. Johnson(1973),p.61.
3. McKay(1961),p. 33.
????????????
REFERENCES:
Johnson, Leo A. 1973. History of the County of Ontario, 1615-1875. Whitby:
Corporation of the County of Ontario.
McKay, William A. 1961. The Pickering Story. [Pickering] .Township of Pickering Historical
Society.
Morley, Leslie M., and others. 1970. The Village of Pickering 1800-1970. Ajax: The
Corporation of the Village of Pickering.
Mosser, Christine M. 1984. York Upper Canada Minutes of Town Meetings and Lists of
Inhabitants 1797-1823.Toronto: Metropolitan Toronto Library Board.
Wood, William R. 1911. Past Years in Pickering. Toronto: William Briggs.
Personal communication: Dave O'Brien, Brian Winter.
The Bentley House
COMMENTARY
Commentary on the Bentley House, Brougham, from Nick and Helma Mika, Splendid Heritage:
Historical Buildings of Ontario (Belleville: Mika Publishing Co., 1992), p. 66.
Not surprisingly, some of Ontario's architectural treasures may be found in small villages and
crossroad settlements. Brougham, situated a few miles north of Lake Ontario and now part of
the Town of Pickering, is such a place.
The village was known at one time as Bentley's Corners after William Bentley, one of its pioneer
settlers. He operated the first general store in the community and in the 1840's began to
manufacture patent medicines, a lucrative business which flourished throughout Ontario when
medical developments were in their infancy. Those were the days when popular remedies,
flavoured with whiskey or laced with arsenic, opium, mercury and charcoal powders,
promised not only to dull the pain but cure everything from consumption to nervous disorders,
indigestion and chronic worry.
William Bentley's industry prospered for he was able to build a beautiful Georgian-style house at
the corner of Brock Road and what is now Highway 7, opposite his factory.
The imposing two-storey polychromed brick building is situated on a well-treed large lot.
The decorative brickwork is patterned in ""white"" on red, particularly detailed on the second
floor facade. Above the Greek Revival central entrance is a three-part Palladian window,
round-headed in the centre. The hipped roof with end chimneys is topped by a large belvedere,
an Italianate addition popular in the mid-19th century.
4"
"First town meeting
by John W. Sabean
Henry Gawman raises the question of the dating of the first Pickering Township meeting—
1801 or 1803— as reported by different historians.
A look at other sources of Pickering's history confuses the issue even more. Working backwards
we find that Gauslin (1974), p. 4, dated the meeting from 1803, but located Munger's house on
Lot 7, Con 2; Johnson (1973), p. 61, citing Farewell (1907) as his source, dates the meeting as
4 June 1801; McKay (1961), p. 33, says the meeting was held 4 June 1803, at Munger's, Lot 16,
Con 2 ""which he leased for a few years before moving north to the vicinity of Salem"";
Wood (1911), p. 17, quotes from the ""earliest municipal record extant"" as ""
A record of a meeting for choosing the town officers and other regulators for the towns of
Pickering and Whitby held at the house of Samuel Munger in Pickering, March, 7th day, 1803.
""To further complicate matters, the Centennial Map created by the (first) Pickering Township
Historical Society, locates the first meeting at Munger's house at Lot 7, Con 6 (Smith, 1967).
The locating of the meeting at on the 6th Concession was probably derived from Farewell (1907),
p. 12, who says:
""This township [Pickering] was formerly joined with Whitby Township, one of the earliest records
relating to the township matters is dated 4th of June, 1801. It is a record of the first of the old
town meeting days, entitled 'A record of a meeting for choosing town officers and other
regulators for the Towns of Pickering and Whitby, held at the house of Samuel Munger,
now the Judson Gibson farm, in Pickering, near Salem.""
Note, however, that the quotation of the title was never closed, and it is not clear, therefore,
that the latter part of the sentence, placing the meeting at the house which is
""now the Judson Gibson farm"" was Farewell's own addition.
The solution to this conflicting evidence made be found (apart from examining the
manuscript record of the Township) in looking at the earliest printed source we presently have:
Beers (1877).
On page viii it says: ""The earliest record of [Whitby] township matters we are enabled to find is
in an old township book giving the marks of cattle, sheep and hogs 'belonging to the inhabitants
of Pickering and Whitby' This commences on the 4th June, 1801. We extract the following as the
first recorded minutes, retaining the original orthography: 'A Record of a meeting for chusing the
town Officers and other Regulators for the towns of Pickering and) Whitby held at the house of
Samuel Munger in Pickering—March 7th Day, 1803....'""
It is dear from the statement in Beers (1877) that the earliest record dates to 4 June 1801.
What is not clear is whether there had been a town meeting to (1) determine the animal
markings and/or (2) to take a census and choose a Collector of taxes. Eleazer Lockwood
collected the taxes in 1802, and was audited in April? 1803 (Beers, 1877, p. viii).
The recording of the minutes of the meeting at Samuel Munger's house was for a meeting on 7
March 1803, and this, then, is the earliest record of a town meeting for Pickering. It was,
of course, a joint meeting with Whitby. The first town meeting for Pickering alone took place in
1811. But were there other joint meetings between 1803 and 1811?
As to the place, we know that the Mungers were still in Pickering Village or Duffins Creek as
late as 1805, because of a story which appeared in the York Gazette in that year (see McKay,
1961,p. 33).
It is instructive sometimes to follow the history back from the latest to the earliest sources to see
what and how errors creep into the record. In the above instance, some of the mistakes appear
to be simply clerical, but others appear to be a misunderstanding of sources. The placing of the
meeting on the 6th Concession instead of properly on the 2nd was a matter of letting later events
interpret earlier ones.
????????????
References;
Farewell J.E. 1907. County of Ontario. Whitby: Whitby Gazette-Chronicle Press.
Gauslin, Lillian M. 1974. From Paths to Planes: A Story of the Claremont Area. Claremont:
the author.
Illustrated Historical Atlas of the County of Ontario, Ont. Toronto: J.H. Beers & Co,
1877;cited as Beers(1877).
Johnson, Leo A. 1973. History of the County of Ontario 1615-1875. Whitby: Corporation
of the County of Ontario.
McKay, William A. 1961. The Pickering Story. Pickering: The Township of Pickering
Historical Society.
Smith, George. 1967. ""Map of Pickering Township, Centennial Souvenir."" [Pickering:]
Pickering Township Historical Society.
Wood, William R. 1911. Past Years in Pickering. Toronto: William Briggs.
MAKING OUR OWN HISTORY
The audience at our June meeting was treated to a house call by noted 18th century medical
practitioner B.Barkley-Fynche. His informative discourse included vivid descriptions of
""current"" treatments such as blood-letting, purging and the use of emetics as keys to
Good Health. Barkley-Fynche was accompanied by his ""long-suffering"" wife who passed
along her impressions of the colonies and instructed the assembly on the subject of medicinal
plants and herbs. Their presentation cutting-edge methodology will not soon be forgotten,
even in this environment of shrinking health care. B.Barkley-Fynche is the non de guerre of
Bruce Finch; his wife is Diane Finch. In July, along with the Pickering Museum Village and the
Writers' Circle of Durham, the Society co- sponsored an Ontario Historical Society workshop
entitled ""Writing and Publishing Community History."" Participants were taken through the
process by acknowledged pros, conducted in the special atmosphere of the Museum Village's
Chapel. Dorothy Duncan, OHS Executive Director and former Brougham resident, started the
session with a talk on ""Researching Your Local History."" She was followed by Kirk Howard,
president of heritage publishers, The Dundurn Group, who discussed ""Publishing for the Trade
Market.""
After lunch, regional author and storyteller Sher Leetooze presented do-it-yourself side of the
publishing game with ""Writing and Publishing Your Own Work."" Finally, Marjory Greene shared
some of her experiences in contributing to the recently published A Town Called Ajax.
Her discussion was entitled ""Creative Writing in Non-Fiction""
We are eagerly anticipating submissions to Pathmaster from newly inspired participants.
The theme of this year's Spirit Walk at the Pickering Museum Village was the Rebellion of 1837.
As much as possible, the scriptwriters incorporated the actual words of the historical characters
whom they had invoked for the evening.
What made the event extra special was the presence of Richard and Rose Matthews of Caro,
Michigan. Richard is a direct descendent of Peter Matthews, the local resident who paid the
ultimate price for his role in the rebellion. Peter was posthumously pardoned by Queen Victoria,
but Richard was gratified to see that his forebear is finally being recognised for his sacrifice to
the building of this nation. Richard and Rose also left in the care of the PTHS a pair of
monogrammed silver spoons which had belonged to Peter and Hanna Matthews.
They were donated with the proviso that they be exhibited to ""the people of Pickering,
especially school children, in the hope they will help bring their local history alive.""
We are hoping to display them at the History Room of the Pickering Central Library and feel
certain that they will provide a genuine touchstone to our past.
Richard also provided us with a copy of his family history, parts of which are new to us and will
be incorporated into next year's Spirit Walk. The Matthews retain an emotional attachment to the
land of Richard's ancestors, moreover it is a pleasure to note the pride with which Richard
affixes the initials U.E. (for United Empire Loyalist) to his signature. To the Matthews,
we thank you both for your generosity and we hope to see you again next year!
5"
"The Battle for
GANDATSETIAGON
by Tom Mohr
Matters of Cultural Heritage have been heating up on our western borders of late.
As most are aware, Pickering has long claimed the site of Gandatsetiagon as our own.
This short-lived 17th century Seneca village represents the expansionist aims of the Iroquois
Confederacy, the terminus of one of the great native trading networks, as well as the site of
French missionary and fur trading activity. It was also a microcosm of European intrigue.
Oral history has long placed this continental cross-roads on our very own Frenchman's Bay.
Lamentably, though, this wonderful tale is getting less credence of late. An analysis of the
historical material placing Gandatsetiagon on the Bay reveals that our information seems to
derive from one late 19th century source whose data simply cannot be verified.
On the other hand, recent (and not so recent) archaeological activity places a late 1660s-era
Seneca village site on the western bank of the Rouge River, near the forks. The nature of the
artifacts leaves no doubt as to the veracity of this statement, and we must therefore be content to
look west of the Bay for Gandatsetiagon. Today this location is deemed so culturally significant
that it has been recommended as a National Historical Site. However, having now turned our
attention to the Rouge, should we completely accept the new paradigm?
One of our local residents, Marion Martin, refuses to. She has challenged the Toronto and
Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), concerned that their land-use policies at the mouth of
the Rouge threaten significant First Nations archaeological remains. Citing map evidence,
historical documentation, and archaeology, she feels that the south-east river bank has the
potential to prove even more important than the northern site.
Her battle has not been easy. Granted, the old French maps are not as precise as we'd like to
see and the historical evidence can be ambiguous as well. Still, for a quick indication of the
possibilities, I invite the reader to consult pages 204 & 205 of William McKay's The Pickering
Story. The firsthand commentary by Mr. Cowan regarding the discovery of a post contact-era
site on his property cannot be disputed.
Marion's investigation reinforces the very high likelihood that First Nations occupations,
perhaps even an early site for Ganatsetiagon, existed at the mouth of the Rouge.
Iroquois villages moved at regular intervals for consistent reasons. We cannot ignore the
probability that the whole area is highly sensitive from a heritage standpoint.
This recognition is important. One cannot in good conscience declare one aspect of this village
to be worthy of preservation and celebration, and then bulldoze the rest. Neither can we dismiss
the historical integrity of any other native group, be they Huron, Seneca, or Mississauga,
who may have chosen the mouth of the Rouge for their home.
Certainly, there has been a continued succession of inhabitants on these lands, and much of the
area has been disturbed since native times. If these properties are to be put back into private
ownership, though, areas which have survived relatively unscathed should be sought out and
protected. Various apects of legislation call for such procedures, but it is imperative that the
TRCA conduct a detailed archaeological assessment of the entire area in question before
divesting itself of any more local holdings. Let's examine the cultural landscape and not just take
it on a lot-by-lot basis.
Marion has used the phrase ""cultural amnesia"" to describe the current lack of attention given
our collective past, recognising how it often seems to be politically incorrect to celebrate our
nation's formative processes. Admitting that she has ""ruffled a few feathers"" in her battle to
maintain the natural and cultural integrity of the Rouge, she is taking her concerns to several
levels of government. If this issue is important to you, express your concerns to Gord Weeden at
the Rouge Park (416) 28R-OUGE, Don Prince of the TRCA at (416) 661-6600 and Pickering
Mayor Wayne Arthurs at (905) 420-6600.
Archaeological resources are particularly sensitive to the pressures of development and once
gone, cannot be retrieved. If such resources remain at the Rouge, as a caring community we
should take ample opportunity to examine the sites, interpret their significance, and dear them in
advance of the bulldozers. We will keep the readership apprised of developments
(in both senses of the word).
In the meanwhile, the PTHS has also been involved as a commenting agency for both the
Rouge Park Interpretative Programme and the Rouge Watershed Heritage Management Plan.
The Rouge River system is an important aspect of our cultural identity, yet we tend to forget its
presence at our western doorstep. It is my personal wish that we recognise Gandatsetiagon
and the Rouge by naming the western part of our proposed trail system The Seneca Trail as a
permanent reminder of this aspect of our aboriginal heritage.
Late Update: The TRCA recently re-tested the properties in question, and discovered only two
flakes of chert. Even so, the Society commends the TRCA for responding to public concern by
being doubly certain that no significant archaeological resources were threatened on these sites.
A Poem of Peace
IN A TIME OF WAR
Introduction by John W. Sabean
In 1916 when this poem was written, Frederick Broughton Housser was a clerk at the
Central Loan and Savings Company in Toronto. In October of the previous year, he and his wife
of one year purchased a home on l9 acres [7.7 hectares] in Pickering Village.1 There in the
spring of the year, while war raged in Europe, he walked with his wife on the back of their lot and
found a day so perfect he had to set it to verse.
Ten years later Fred Housser wrote A Canadian Art Movement, the first history of the Group of
Seven. By that time he had become the financial editor of the Toronto Daily Star where his
column was known as ""Housser in The Star."" He had also become a familiar figure in art
circles where he was a member of the Art Gallery of Toronto and of the Arts and Letters Club,
and his wife Bess wrote an art column in the Canadian Bookman.2 Fred's brother Harry was
later the President of the Toronto Stock Exchange and their father had been for many years the
Secretary of the Massey-Harris Company.3
1 On Lot 13, Con. 2, fronting on Kingston Road. The house, much altered, still stands and is
now 456 Kingston Road West.
2 See my article on Fred and Bess Housser in Pathmaster 1(1):8.
3 A copy of the poem is part of the Doris Speirs Estate, now in the collection of Dr. J. Murray
Speirs.
A DAY IN MAY
A day in May
When the birds are gay,
And the fields are green
With the growing hay.
We wandered together—
A day in forever.
Violets and trilliums
Were smiling in millions.
We walked on a carpet
Of purple and bloom;
We wandered together,
A day in forever,
Forgetting the world
With its struggle and gloom.
Not a cloud marred the beauty
Within or without us.
Our hearts beat in time
To the day all about us,
As we wandered together,
A day in forever.
The rabbits were playing,
The brook to us saying,
"" Come, join in the song
That I sing you today.
Two lives together
Can go on forever
Expressing their love
Like a day in May.""
"" Both one to the other,
And each to his brother
May sing out the song
Of the birds and the trees.
Two lives together
May go on forever
Keeping their thoughts
Like a day in May.""
Fred Housser
Pickering, May 1916
6"
"Some Speedy Connections:
CHIEF WABBEKISHECO OF THE MISSISSAUGAS
by John W. Sabean
The story of the sinking of the schooner Speedy in 1804 near present-day Presqu'ile Provincial
Park is an oft-told tale, and one, I might add, which has been greatly embellished over the years.
The principals in the affair came from Oshawa and Toronto, and from among the Mississauga
Indians. However, there are also some Pickering connections to the story.
John Sharp, factor for the fur-trading brothers A. Moody and William Farewell, was murdered
near Scugog Island sometime in 1804.1 Charged with the murder was one Ogetonicut,
a member of the Mississaugas from whom the Farewells purchased their furs.2 Since it was
determined by survey that the crime was committed, not in the Home District, where most of the
court attendees lived, but in Newcastle District, the court had to be moved to that jurisdiction.
The case, then, was to be heard at Newcastle, a town-in-the-making near Brighton, and the
accused, [a]long with judge, lawyers, other court officials, and witnesses, were to be transported
aboard the government schooner Speedy under Captain Thomas Paxton. The Speedy, however,
never arrived at its destination; it was blown off course and sank with all hands in a storm.
The grand chief of the Mississaugas at the time, whose authority extended from the Humber
River to the Bay of Quinte, was Wabbekisheco.3 His involvement in the above incident was in
turning over the accused to the authorities. Immediately after the murder, the Mississauga band,
Ogetonicut along, journeyed down the Scugog Portage to Annis Creek in present-day Oshawa
and along the lake shore to Toronto Island in what was to be one of the last recorded fur-trading
expeditions in the area.
The authorities were notified of Ogetonicut's presence and of his alleged crime.
When they went out to arrest him Wabbekisheco co-operated fully with them, and,
as one source expressed it: ""took the culprit by the shoulder and delivered him up.""4 What was
in Wabbekisheco's mind at the time of the arrest we will probably never know, but certainly he
was putting his trust in the white men to deal with the matter in a just and equitable way.
From all that I have read about Chief Wabbekisheco he appears to have been a wise, far-seeing,
and just leader of his people, and toward European settlers, who were, after all, trespassing on
his tribe's traditional hunting ground, he reacted in a peaceful, conciliatory way.
Some ten years or more before the Sharp murder the first settlers in what is now the City of
Oshawa (and in the former County of Ontario) arrived on the lake front and occupied an old
fur-trader's hut.5 This was Benjamin Wilson and his family, who received from the government
enough supplies to last them until they could produce their own food and other necessities.6
One day some Indians came and removed some of their provisions.7 The family were, of course,
distraught and fled the scene in the direction of Smith's Creek (Port Hope). At Smith's Creek
they encountered Chief Wabbekisheco who returned with Wilson to the hut, and ordered the
restoration of all Wilson's goods with sufficient payment for anything missing. In addition,
the chief provided Wilson with a wampum belt as a token of peace; so long as the belt was kept
in sight the family would suffer no further danger. As one version concludes: ""
And neither was there; the Indians became most friendly and supplied the family afterwards
with abundance of venison and fish.""8
So, what is the connection with Pickering? There are several versions of the story of Wilson's
stolen supplies, but only a few, so far as I have uncovered, add the following information.' William
Peak was Pickering's earliest settler (along with his family)— settling here about the year 1800.
But Peak was not newly arrived in the area. He had been for some years a fur trader and Indian
interpreter and was operating out of the Smith's Creek area. And, he was a good friend of Chief
Wabbekisheco, who was, no doubt, his principal trading associate.
When the Wilsons retreated to Smith's Creek and ran into the chief, it happened that the chief
was at the time accompanied by William Peak. It was to Peak that Wilson poured out his story,
and Peak interpreted for him to the chief. Because of Peak's timely intervention,
Wilson got his supplies back and became ""firmly established in his new home.""10
In subsequent issues of Pathmaster I will recall some further connections of the Speedy incident
to Pickering's history.11
NOTES
1. The earliest extant account of the murder of John Sharp known to me is: Farewell (1869),
as quoted in ""Pedlar Papers"", frames 179-184. Unfortunately, the article is missing from the
only existing copy of the newspaper. Scadding (1873), pp. 210-211, is a much more accessible
source and adds only a few small details. These two accounts, certainly not the first, appear to
have been derived from the same source. Other 19th-century accounts are contained in Beers
(1877) and Belden (1878). However, the most complete and scholarly, although thoroughly
readable account, now is O'Brien (1992), the only book length study to date. O'Brien seems to
have been unaware of Farewell (1869) and Beers (1877).
2 The alleged murderer's name is given with some divergence in the sources: Ogetonicut in
the earliest sources Farewell (1869)and Scadding (1873), O-go-ton-og-cut in Beers (1877),
O-go-tong-nat in Belden (1878), and Ogetonecut in Farewell (1907). Most of the sources greatly
abuse Ogetonicut in condemning him even though he never had his day in court.
3. The name of the Mississauga chief is also
variously transliterated in the sources as Wabbokisheco (Beers, 1877), Wabokishees
(Higgins, 1887), Waubikishko (Farewell, 1907), Wabakischoe (Farewell, 1907),
Wabakischoo (Farewell, 1913), and even Waab (Belden, 1878). I have chosen to go with the
earliest spelling as used in both Farewell (1869) and Scadding (1873).
4. Scadding(1873),p.211.
5. The date of arrival of the Wilsons in Oshawa is uncertain. Some sources, e.g., Kaiser(1921),
p. 5,give 1794;other sources, e.g., Hood (1968),p. 3, say 1790. Pedlar (c 1890-1900), frame 34,
argues for the earlier date on the basis of information derived from a descendant of the Wilsons.
See also Meeker (n.d.).
6. To my knowledge the earliest account of the Wilson settlement, including the Wabbekisheco
incident, is found in Beers (1877). Higgins (1887) includes both stories, but is derived almost
entirely from Beers (1877). Pedlar (c l890-1900) provides another early account.
7. It is not certain what the intention of the Indians was. Some sources treat the matter as o
utright theft, based on a natural animosities between Indian and white settler. Other sources
argue a simple misunderstanding, the Indians believing that they were entitled to share what
they found in the cabin.
8. Beers (1877), p. vii.
9. Farewell (1907), pp. 12,18-19. The Peak connection is confirmed by Meeker (n.d.), p. 4,
who simply says: ""Then the chief told Wilson to take furs from their packs to make up for the
missing goods. He thought Wilson did not take enough so he and Peake, the white agent,
'pulled furs' from the packs until Wilson was more than repaid.""
10.Farewell(1913).
11. Of the above stories there are a number of traditions all of which must be carefully sifted by
the historian.
REFERENCES:
""Early Day Tales in Ontario County,"" Toronto Daily Star (5 July 1913);
cited as Farewell (1913).
Farewell, Abram. 1869. Article in Oshawa Vindicator(6 December), as quoted in part in
""Pedlar Papers"", frames 179-184; cited as Farewell (1869).
Farewell, J.E. 1907. County of Ontario. Whitby: Whitby Gazette-Chronicle Press.
Higgins, W.H. 1887. The Life and Times of Joseph Gould. Toronto: C. Blackett Robinson.
Reprinted: Toronto: Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 1972.
Hood, Magnus Mclntyre. 1968. Oshawa ""The Crossing between the Waters"". Oshawa:
Oshawa Public Library.
Illustrated Historical Atlas of the County of Ontario, Ont. Toronto: J.H. Beers & Co, 1877;
cited as Beers (1877).
Illustrated Historical Atlas of the Counties of Northumberland and Durham, Ont. Toronto:
H. Belden & Co., 1878; cited as Belden (1878).
Kaiser, T.E. 1921. Historic Sketches of Oshawa. Oshawa: Reformer Printing and Publishing Co.
Meeker, Blanche. N.d. ""The Story of Benjamin Wilson, Our First Settler"". MS (available in the
Oshawa Archives).
O'Brien, Brendan. 1992. Speedy Justice: The Tragic Last Voyage of His Majesty's Vessel
Speedy. Toronto: The Osgoode Society.
Pedlar, Samuel. c 1890-1900. ""Pedlar Papers"". MS (available in the Oshawa Archives).
Scadding, Henry. 1873. Toronto of Old. Rev. ed. 1966. Ed. Frederick Armstrong. Toronto:
Oxford University Press.
7"
"Understanding a Community:
Whitevale Cemetery
By Michael Cummins
One of the most interesting methods of understanding a community's history is to visit the local
cemetery. A cemetery offers a perspective on a community which a book or picture cannot
reveal. It is a good place to begin a research project, because the names of the deceased are
carved in stone for all to see.
The Whitevale cemetery is located east of the hamlet on a plot of land once owned by the Major
family (part of lot 28, concession 5). As is evident from a survey of the cemetery and the number
of gravestones, a large number of the Major family settled and farmed in the surrounding area.
Other families are also represented by multiple stones.
The Whitevale cemetery stones demonstrate that individuals stayed in the community and raised
many generations of their own families to continue living in Whitevale. The original stones are all
made from limestone; all fashioned in the same manner. Some of the later limestone markers
are larger than the earlier ones. Many are weathered and barely legible. Polished granite stones
began to be common toward the end of the last century, and may have replaced some early
grave markers. Some are elaborate and commanding stones, which suggest wealth and
prestige in the community.
It is well known that child mortality was higher in the past. Around the beginning of the twentieth
century, the deaths of four young children were recorded in the Whitevale cemetery,
with one infant from the Noble family dying less than three months after being born.
A Major family stone reveals a curious and sad series of deaths of young adults.
Lillie C. Robinson died in 1901 at age 23, Mary Maude Robinson died in 1901 at age 20,
Margaret M. Robinson died in 1901 at age 18, and Emma A. Robinson died in l902 at age l7.
The cemetery survey did not reveal any reason for a catastrophe. A review of the dates of death
and the comparative ages of those who died in the same period might suggest that there was an
outbreak of tuberculosis in the area. It remains a mystery as to exactly why these four young
women died so close together, but what is more surprising is that their mother,
Mary Major Robinson, lived for another twenty-five years after the last child, Emma, died.
In searching the cemetery, I discovered a stone lying on the ground which read
""An Unknown Stranger 1854"". This stone with its intriguing inscription was revealed to be that
of a man who ventured into the hamlet one day in 1854'. He was passing through town when he
stopped at the local hotel. As the story goes, the stranger was discovered dead the following
morning in his room with no apparent reason for his sudden passing and without any form of
identification which would allow the concerned citizens of Whitevale to inform his family of the
tragedy. The citizens decided to bury him in the local cemetery.
REFERENCES:
Friends of Whitevale. 1989. ""History of Whitevale.""
Pugh, Mr. & Mrs. 1939. ""History of Whitevale and Community.""
PICKERING TOWNSHIP HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Editor: Lys Laurence
Editorial Assistants:
John Cormier
Pat McCauley
Tom Mohr
Gayle Quintilian
John Sabean
Design: John Cormier
Hands On Art & Design
Pathmaster is the newsletter of the Pickering Township Historical Society and is issued
quarterly: September, December, March, and June. Address correspondence to PTHS, c/o 842
Naroch Blvd., Pickering, Ontario, L1W 1S9.
Board of Directors:
Honourary President Dr. William McKay
President: Tom Mohr 839-1221
Vice President: John Sabean 831-3811
Recording & Corresponding Secretary: Gayle Quintilian 428-1248
Membership Secretary: Anne Bridge 649-5473
Treasurer: Tony Poirier 839-6885
Advocacy & Preservation Chair: Jerry Paris 839-5474
Publications Chair: Lys Laurence 839-9837
Coming events:
General Meetings of the Pickering Township Historical Society
Day: Second Tuesday of the month, September through June
Time: 7:30 p.m. Place: East Shore Community Centre, 910 Liverpool Rd.
FALL/WINTER SCHEDULE:
Tuesday, 13 October 1998
Guest speaker: Dennis Pollock
Mr. Pollock, Head Groundskeeper at Black Creek Pioneer Village, will talk about the use early
settlers made of native plants and what plants they brought with them to use for food, clothing,
and medicine.
Tuesday, 10 November 1998
Guest speaker: Dr. Zebadiah Zonk
Victorian phrenologist, Dr. Zonk, thinks we should have our heads read, and he is prepared to
do it for us. He will both demonstrate the methods applied by his ""science,"" and explain some
of its history.
Tuesday, 8 December 1998
Guest speaker: Members Night
This is your night to put on display items of historical interest that you have collected or that have
been handed down in your family. You might also have some slides of a family reunion,
local buildings of architectural merit, or perhaps a recent trip to an historical site.
Or maybe you have some concerns about the preservation of Pickering's heritage that you
would like to bring to our attention.
Tuesday, 12 January 1999
Guest speaker: Lorne Smith
Markham's official town historian, Lorne Smith, will address the society on the history of the
Berczy settlement.
8"