HomeMy WebLinkAbout567Spiral bound book, 10 pages, 21.5 x 28 cm. written by Charles T. Fothergill.
"R.R. #3
Newcastle, Ont.
April 5, 1957
Dear Mrs. W.A. McKay
R.R. #1 Pickering, Ont.
In reply to your inquiry re Fothergill family. The farm as you probably know was part of lots
10 & 11 baseline, east of Duffins Creek. Charles Fothergill, my grandfather,
settled there in the early 1830's, having married as his second wife Eliza Richardson to
whom were born two daughters and two sons. My father John J. Fothergill was born there
in 1836 and on becoming of age inherited the farm, and on his death in 1908,
the old homestead was left to my brother George J. Fothergill now residing on
Byron St. N. Whitby. I have a sister Elizabeth Fothergill living in Oshawa,
Buckingham Appts, No.7, Simcoe St. N. who could probably give you more information
about the family. We moved to Newcastle three years ago and a number of books have
become lost or mislaid. I remember reading an account of Fothergill's early life in England,
well known as a Naturalist and Artist, he farmed more or less as a hobby, raising different
kinds of livestock especially the breeding of thoroughbred horses which he sold to lords
and earls of note, reserving the right to commissions on their earnings in the races.
In coming out to this country, he did not specialize in farming, but promoted and kept
up an interest in agriculture, particularly Agricultural Societies' fairs and sales of good
stock were held in many districts.
Charles Fothergill became a sort of a chief magistrate, kept Post Office, general stores
and flour mills; one of the latter was burnt on Duffins Creek, above the baseline.
You might obtain some early history from Miss Elizabeth Richardson of Pickering.
At one time a good deal of farm land, for some four miles east of the creek, from the
baseline to the lake was owned by the Richardson family. One of the older members
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"now living is Mr. Louis F. Richardson, Centre St. South, Whitby. Another of the older
generation is Mr. Claude Field, who owned a farm at the mouth of the creek, he must
have a good deal of information, he lives at present on Highway No. 2 - one and a half
miles east of Pickering. Some of the early families I might mention, Greenlaw, Peak,
Logan, McCausland, Powell, Stanley, Campbell, also a well known citizen of Pickering,
Mr. Miles Chapman. I might also refer you to Miss Edna Green of Greenwood whose father,
Mr. F.L. Green had a wide knowledge of the early families. I remember reading a book of
his by Joseph Gould who gives an interesting account of early times.
I am enclosing an article of the Naturalist by Mr. James L. Bailie of the Toronto Museum.
Much success to your endeavor
Yours Truly,
Chas. T. Fothergill
R.R #3
Newcastle, Ont.
IN BIRDLAND
By James L. Baillie Jr.
Early Naturalist
Several years ago we called attention to the life of Charles Fothergill, who was the earliest
naturalist of any importance in Southern Ontario. As a result new information came to our
attention about this pioneer worker. In the hope that there may be other readers who have
data which might be placed at our disposal, we again venture a short account of Fothergill.
He was born on May 23, 1782 at York. His family (Quakers)
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"steered him into pursuits of natural history and at seventeen he had become sufficiently
familiar with birds of the British isles to publish a list totaling 301 species
By 1816 his books included an essay on the philosophy, study and use of natural history
(London, 1813) and ""the Wanderer: or a collection of Original Tales and Essays,
Founded Upon Facts,"" which ran to 608 pages. (London 1803)
In 1816, Fothergill, with his wife and two small sons, settled at Port Hope.
He became the first postmaster and built a hunting lodge on Rice Lake
(at the mouth of the Otonabee River) which he called Castle Fothergill.
He became a great favourite with the Mississauga Indians and was regarded
as their white chief. From 1822 to 1826 Fothergill was King's Printer of Upper
Canada with offices in York (now Toronto) and from 1825 to 1831 he represented
Durham in the Legislative Assembly.
Some of the publications by him from his printing office on York St. (at Pearl)
were a series of almanacs (five editions) and a farmer's almanac ""a best-seller""
of bygone days.
Fothergill, with the help of Dr. ""Tiger"" Dunlop and Dr. William Rees, proposed the
establishment of a museum and art gallery at Toronto (1830-40) and there was a public
exhibition of objects of art and natural history. Sir John Colborne, then Lieutenant-Governor,
was sponsor and a grant of land was made for a building on Garrison Commons between
Queen street and old Fort York. The proposal fell through on Fothergill's death in 1840 and
on the destruction of his specimens afterwards.
At Pickering (then Duffins Creek), Fothergill planned a village by the name of Monadelphia
in 1835 but it never materialized, although his deed of trust was duly registered at the
Whitby registry office.
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