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The Story of Benjamin Wilson, Our First Settler.
As ePzdicfl-Ba&r) in Fnrbruary 1966
Travel to the Oshawa Harbour and instead of fuming West to the lovely picnic grounds,
let your feet stray as far as the creek on the East Looking across the narrow stretch of
water, we see, high on a hill, a cemetery. There, in that peaceful, well -kept Memory on
the fans of Lyman Gifford, lies the mortal remains of Benjamin Wilson, our ancestor.
Over his gave is a marble tombstone on which is carved "In Memory of Benjamin
Wilson, who died March 5th, 1821, N the 89th year of his age".
—�
He was bore in 1732, a New Yorker. Benjamin Wilson went to Putney, Vennom.
He had become a Captain in Washington's army in May 8, 1770. Thus he served with
the Patriot Army during the Revolution. A few years later he refused to serve in the
Vermont Militia, although by then he may have become a lieutenant, and he also refused
to hire a substitute as was done in those days.
He was appointed "Surveyor of Highways" in Putney. He was later involved in
the great land dispute of Vermont, when New Hampshire and New York both claimed
jurisdiction over Vermont New Hampshire won and Wilson being a New Yorker,
probably became embittered and left,
He went to Pennsylvania where he married a widow Lockwood. She SOME to
have had two husbands previous to Wilson. In each case she accompanied her new
husband into some uninhabited section of the country with a view of carving a home
from the primeval forest In one case, in the States, it is said her husband was tortured
and bmmlly murdered ley Indians. Wilson had also been married before.
Wilson and his wife left for Canada, in 1790, bringing with then two small sons
and two young torn, George Lockwood, no doubt Wilson's stepson, and Ransom. They
entered Canada by way of Niagara, where he likely secured a boat to carry them on.
Wilson consulted Governor Stmcoe as to the best land for settlement and was told of an
old abandoned French Fort, a log cabin deserted since 1759, which could be used as a
temporary home.
It was on the lake front of take Ontario, near what is now Oshawa, one half mile
East of the present Port Oshawa. The fort had been called "Colum de Plomb".
They rowed along the shore while the young men walked driving a yoke of axon,
and four cows. It was slow travelling, the parry in the boat keeping close to the shore,
watching the boys with the livestock, suit all camping at night on the shore.
We me told that Ivhs. Wilson had her chain filled with mince pasties to help feed
them on the journey.
When one remembers that at that time there were no roads, nor pathways, we
realize it was a brave feat. It may be that the feet of Indians had laid out a tris that they
followed. The wilderness between York and the Trent River was practically untraversed
by white settlers, prior to the time when these pioneer settlers set down their stakes and
laid the foundations for a Canadian home on the Lake Shore, near Port Oshawa.
Wilson chose a spm close to the lake, for that was in be his road for many years.
Nearby was a beautiful bluff of 100 acres, now entirely or nearly disappeared. Bluff
Point which appeared like a floating island in the lake, was less than 1/2 mile East of
Wilson's home. In 1790 Bluff Point had 100 acres. By about 1840 it was reduced to 40
saes, and today almost nothing remains.
In the early days this Bluff Point served as picnic grounds for the early settlers,
whose pleasures were simple and for whom fife was hard.
Later seuders could tell of fisherman Terrill (Terill) who lived at the Point in later
years, when he is said to have cultivated a superior quality of fruit and vegetable, caught
many fish, even salmon which ran in the creek. The creek was large then, as saw mills, a
brewery distillery, a 1'umiture factory not Farewell's Comers, now Harmony, were all
powered by the creek Terrill was finally driven out by the threat of erosion and he
moved to Mara. About the middle of the 1800's the Farewells launched schooners very
close to this land. The Caledonia was launched there.
Wilson's land was wooded to the water's edge. In 1791 Augustus force began
surveying and the coastline Indian Trail in 1793 was transferred into a military mad from
Kingston to Toronto. In 1796 he applied for a deed to his land. He was given Crown
Grant, Lot 4, Broken Front Concession, Whitby Township, Home District by the Order -
ht -Council from York (Toronto) in 1797.
Wilson's cabin was built about 150 yards from the shore of the lake,
approximately halfway between Oshawa Creek and the marsh next East, now known as
Farewell's Marsh.
As late as the year 1900 the outline of his buildings was still marked by the
remaining stones which had formed the foundations. Farewell's Marsh and the marsh at
the South of Oshawa Creek abounded in fm -bearing animals and provided marsh grass
which served many purposes. In the fall of the year both creeks were full of salmon
which ascended there to spawn, and provided an abundance, both of fresh and salted, for
many years. Here Benjamin Wilson lived, worked to clear a little of the forest, hunted
food for his family, trapped for furs to trade with the Hudson's Bay Company.
This was the favourite hunting ground of the Missagas, belonging to the Ogibway
tribe. Another source said it was the Chippeways. They did not take kindly to the
invasion. One roving tribe stole all the settler's provisions, (no doubt the food and tools
provided each sender), and since the family were unable to obtain more, nor could they
exist during the winter without these provisions, they decided to leave. Col. Farewell
tells that the Indians cold them to go and never retum.
Benjamin and his family travelled East, and new Port Hope (Ganamski), he met
the Indian chief Webakischce(Wab-bok-ishego). This chief ruled the Indians from the
Humber to the Bay of Quince. This chief learned what had happened and told Wilson to
remm to his cabin They waited until the Indian was discovered prowling around. The
Chief sent him to find the Indians who had stolen the goods and they soon appeared, as
they did not dare disobey their chief. They returned to Wilson all the goods and tools
that were left. Then the Chief told Wilson to take furs from their packs to make up for
the missing goods. He though Wilson did not take enough so he and Peake, the white
agent, "Pulled fens" from the packs until Wilson was more than repaid. The chief then
hung a wampum peace belt in Wilson's cabin and instructed the Indians to be friends.
They never again touched any of his property and in fact aided him in many ways.
The fled Chief bad a remarkable was of showing the Indians what would happen
ifthey stole. He held a bundle of sticks in his hand corresponding to the latest census of
the tribe. He stood in solemn attitude before them and taking one stick at a time, cast it
violently to the ground. When the bundle was much reduced he seized the balance and
hurled them to the ground. His meaning was that unless the Indian treated the while man
fairly one by one their little band would be reduced until by some final blow they would
all be exterminated.
Each settler was given 200 acres of land and three years provisions from the
nearest fort to persuade thesto come. Wilson no doubt had to trade in his funs and make
the longjoumey either to Toronto or Niagara for supplies m replace the stolen goods.
Benjamin Wilson was anxious to inform his friends in the southem country of the
great new land in which he had now settled and ask them to join hhn. Lockwood and
Ransome decided to return to the Steres and so carried the letters. As a direct result
Beagle and Conklin, makers of spinning wheels and skilled mechanics arrived at the
Wilson home. These were the pioneers who laid the foundation for the industrial
Oshawa of today.
In 1795 and later, other friends came among whom may have been Sound
Manger, Silas Jarvis, John McGahan, Anthony Rummerfield and others.
In the month of August 1791, Augustus Jones, Deputy Provincial Surveyor, began
to log out in the forest the front line of eleven townships fronting on Lake Ontario,
between the Trent River and Toronto. Jones called the Township of Whitby "Norwich"
and Darlington was called "Bristol". Jones visited his grandparents frequently when the
township was being surveyed in 1791. These visits were often referred to by the with of
the pioneer, who survived her husband by many years.
To Benjamin Wilson and his wife was born in 1793, three years after they founded
the settlement, a daughter Nancy, who is believed to be the first white child hem
between Toronto and Kingston. To the Indians the white baby was a never-ending
source ofwonder. Her birth was always spoken of as taking place 3 years after the
settlement and that she married before her 18thbirthday. 18m -m —093 093-3=090.
Nancy grew into an acknowledged beauty, and gave her hems to a young man
whose father had settled not far from them. William Pickell by name.
Ann was bom after Nancy and she married a Johnson and later went to live in the
States were her descendants were known in 1900. David also returned. Little is known
of the family of this fust sedlerand his wifeElizabeth. WeknowofNancyand Ann
and know of two other daughters mentioned in Benjamin's will, and we also know of
David and James.
John, Thomas, Joshiah, Adam, and Christopher Wilson were early landowners
here and some of these may have been soon of the pioneer. We are sure of Nancy
Pickell, Ana Johnson, Nob Brown, Clancy Lamb, Sally Brown, James and David.
James died in 1863, aged 73. David went to the States in 1837. Ann went to the states
in 1837. Their descendants were (mown in 1900. He named 12 in his will.
John Pickell, an early settler from Vermont, came with his wife, one sou, and
seven daughters to live near the Wilsons in 1794. Another daughter was born, and soon
after the mother died leaving John with a family of small children. He married again,
perhaps about 1797, and had several sons from that marriage, John, Levi, Wilmot. and
George, and these have left many descendants in Oshawa.
William, the oldest son of John, was successful in wooing Nancy, but owing to the
fact that Benjamin was now very bud of hearing, had not ventured to approach the
subject to him. Knowing that a picnic was shortly to be held m Bluff Paint, they planned
to ask him then. The day of the picnic in 1810 was beautiful. The couple awaited thier
opportunity and when Benjamin became separmed from the others by a considerable
distance, William approached him, casting an anxious eye around to see that he would
have privacy. He loudly spoke into the old man's ear, with the result that is consent was
obtained. But the voice of this timid man had been raised to such a high pitch that many
of the happy picnickers heard it all,
There was no telegram nor telephone in these early days but before the people in
the Wilson and neighbouring soulelments had rebredito rest the incident was the main
topic of conversation.
One year later, October 3, 1811, Nancy Wilson became the wife of William
Pickell. Historically this event is ofmore than ordinary interest. Nancy was the fast girl,
born of white parents in the township of Whitby, as well as the fast bride, a native of the
township.
Copied from the records of marriages in the possession of J.P. Lovekin of Clarke,
at the time of his death is the following. -Third of October, 1811, marred Wdlimn Pickell
of Arlington to Nancy Wilson of Whitby, being first duly published in the presence of
William Smith and Waterman and Spencer.
Captian Benjamin Wilson had been given a Grown Grant of Lot 4 in 1797. In
1805 Jane 24, he leased lot 5 adjoining his old lot from the government. The terms were
-payment of eleven shillings ($2.20) or three and one half bushels of when for the first
seven years, for the nett seven years -twenty two shillings or six and a quarter bushels of
wheat, and 33 shillings or nine and three-quarters bushels of wheat for the rat of the
tem.
In Jane 4th, 1819, he sold lot 4 to his son-m-law, Nancy's husband.
The Memorial was registered and the original is now at the Whitby Registry Offices.
No.3423 Memorial Benjamin Willson
to
William Piccle
Registered the 4th June 1819 at 10 O'clock
in the forenoon in Libar. E. Folio 1580 and 1581
S. Jervis
Registrar.
A Memonal to be
Rgodered present to the statue in such case made and provided of an
INDENTURE of bargain and sale, made at Whitby County of York, Home Therrien in
the Province of Upper Canada, by and between Benjamin Willson of the township of
Whitby, County ofYmlk Home district of and Elizabeth Willson wife of the said
Benjamin Willson of the one part, and William Piccle of the afore mentioned township
of Whitby County of York Home District of the other part; whereby the said Bejamin
Willson for and in consideration of the some of One Hundred pounds of lawful money of
the said Province, to them by the said William Piccle in hand paid, and the receipt
thereof acknowledged, hath granted, bargained, sold alliened, transferred, conveyed and
confirmed unto the said William Piccle and his heirs and assigns forever, all that certain
parcel of tract of land and premises situate in the Township of Whitby County of York
Home District being composed of Lot Number Four Borken Front Concession of said
township containing the measurement Two Hundren and Fifty Acres be the some more
or less, which said Lot is butted and bounded, or may otherwise be (mown a follows,
(that is to say ) Commencing in front on Lake Ontario at South East angle of the said
Loy Thence North Sixteen Degrees West one hundred and twenty-two chains more or
less to the allowance for road in the front of the first consession; Thence south seventy -
four degrees west twenty chains more or less to the allowance for Road between lot
number 4 and 5. Then South sixteen degrees East to take Ontario; Then Easterly along
the shore of the said Lake to the place of Beginning. ---
Together with all houses, out -houses, woods and waters thereon erected, Lying
and being, and all and singular, the heredinnents and appurtenances to the said premises
in env wise belonging, and the reversion and reversions, remainder and remainders,
rents, issues and profits therof; and all the estate, right, title, interest, claim, property, and
demand and all the estate, right, title, interest claim, property, and demand and all the
estate, right, title interest, claim, property, and demand whatsoever, either at law or in
equity, of them the said Benjamin Willson and Elizabeth Willson of, in, to, or not, of the
same and every part thereof, under the reservations limitations, and conditions, expressed
in the original Grant from the Crown. To Have and To Hold the same, with
appunenaces, freed and discharged from all incumbrances whatsoever, onto the said
William Piccle his heirs and assigns, to the sole and proper use, benefit, and behoof of
the said William Piccle, his heirs and assigns Forever; Of said Province; and which said
Indenture is witnessed by John Warner of the Township of Darlington in the District of
Newcastle and Province aforesaid Yommm, and David Annis of Whitby, Yeoman, and
this Memorial thereof; is hereby required to be Registered by me the Grantor therin
named.
Witness my hand and Seal at Yak the fourth day of June in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and nineteen.
signed and scaled in the presence of
John Warner
F. Thompson William Piccle
....... Seal
John S Warner of the Town of Darlington came before me and made oath that he was
present and did see Benjamin Willson and Elizabeth Willson silty seal, and deliver as
their act and deed and Indenture of Bargain and Sale of which the within is a memorial,
and also that he was personally present and did see William Piccle Sign and Seal the
within memonal for the Registering thereof, and that he is a subscribing witness to the
said Indenture of Bargain and Sale -
Sworn before me this 4th day
of lune 1819
S. Jarvis Johns. Warner
Register
Benjamin Wilson is considered to be an "United Empire Loyahse' but showed
little sympathy for the Loyalist cause in the War of 1812-1814. He and his family had
their muskets hid in the walls of the cabin when a search was made of all homes. His
neighbours joined the "Darlington Millitia" but I do not believe the Wilsons did.
Dr. Kaiser quoted what he called a "well -authenticated" story concerning "David".
At that time of the war between England and the United States, in 1812, his sympathies
were on the side of his fatherland. Fearing eWishnent by the British he shaped a craft
from pine log, and with no other compass than the glimmer of the Northern star, he
steered across the lake, and remained in Uncle Samuel's domain until the close of the
war. Then he returned to his father's home.
I discovered a record that in a dispute between two of his neighbours, Roger
Conant, and James Burke, who was a pioneer settler, Wilson appeared as a Crown
Witness at the trial which took place in York(Toronm). Julyl4,1801.
Benjamin Wilson made his will which was dated April 8, 1820, and registered
November 21, 1821, atter his death. I had a copy of this will made at the Whitby
Registry Office (kindness or Hazel Wofalk)
Register
21 November, 1821 at I1 a.m.
S. Jarvis
Registrar
In the Name of God Amen
I Benjamin Willson of the Township of Whitby in the County of York Home
District Province of Upper Canada, being of an infirm state of body but of sound mind
blessed by God for his goodness, do ordain this in be my last will and Testament after
revoking and making void all others of what soever name or nature may be now existing
from the beginning in this present date hereof.
First 1 do order that my funeral charges be paid from all the removable property
that I shall leave behind.
Second I do give Thomas Willson two shillings, Benjamin Willson two shillings,
Joseph Willson two shillings, George Willson two shillings, Otis Willson two shillings,
Nobb Brown, my daughter two shillings, Mary Willson two whillings, Clancy Lamb my
daughter two shillings, Nancy Pickell,my daughter two shillings, Ann Johnson two
shillings.
Thirdly I do give and bequeath to my loving wife Elizabeth Willson all the
removable property that I shall have such as grain, hay, horses, oxen, cows, sheep, hogs,
fowls, household furniture of every kind, and description, likewise the sum of two
hundred and fifty dollars, due from George Collates specified and secured by area,
which now is in Ne hand of Richard Lufkin Esq. Which I do ordain and bequeath as
fast as payment becomes due they may be paid over to Elizabeth my wife for her own
disposal, likewise the lease of Lot No. Five, broken front Consession in the Township of
Whitby County of York, Home district to be at the disposal of my wife Elizabeth in
conformity of the whole of the farmentioned imems.
I have hermom set my hand and Seal this eighth day of April in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and twenty.
Attest
John Warner
Nonni Pickell Sign Benjamin Willson L.S.
William Pickell
Benjamin Willson lived in his 89th year. He had spent 30 years on his Canadian
homestead, dying March 5, 1821. His remains were placed on his own land,just a few
yards from his original homestead. Thirty years later they were tratsferred across the
roadway to their present resting place, the well-known cemetery an the rising ground to
be seen East of Port Oshawa. There a nimble tombstone marks his grave. It is thought
this tombstone was erected perhaps thirty years after his death as marble was well-nigh
unobtainable in 1821.
The tombstone reads.
In Memory
Captain Benj. Wilson
who died
March 5th, 1821
In the 89th year of his age.
Nearby is another stone which reads:
In Memory of James Willson
who died May 17, 1863, son of Benjamin Willson.
Belmont's wife, Elizabeth, went to live with Nancy Pickell on the mind
concession of two rod road, north of Farewell's Comer (Harmony). Here she died in
1840, aged 80, and was buried near a school house, said to be only a few minutes walk
from the Pickell home. The school houses in those times often served as churches. No
10
trace of her grave remains. In the late 20's while excavating property on the Kingston
Road which property is now owned by the Catholic Church, a number of graves were
disturbed. These bones were reinlerred in one grave, no doubt in some cemetery. It
might be that here was the resting place of Mrs. Willson. There had been a school house
on this site.
I quote the names as taken form Wllson's will. All or only partmay have been
their children.
Captain Benjamin Willson Elizabeth Lockwood
1732-1821 (89) 1750-1840(80)
1. Thomas Willson
2. Benjamin Willson
3. Joseph Willson
4. Otis Willson
5. Nob Brown, my daughter
6. Mary Willson
7. Clancy Iamb, my daughter
^
S. Sally Brown, my daughter
9. James Willson, died 1863
10. Ann Johnson went to the States in 1837
11. Nancy Pickel, my daughter 1793-1854
12.David Willson returned in the States in 1837
Dr. Kaiser states that Nancy Pickell had 14 children. Others set it at 10.
In the year 1842 a western fever swept over the continent. Canada did not escape iL
William Pickell and Nancy with some of their married children as well as some
unmarried ones, together with a Getman family by the time ofFreiville, and the
Northain Hams family, in all 25 souls, in their 6 double teamed covered wagons left
their East Whitby home for the State of Wisconsin. When the procession passed through
the newly named village of Oshawa, it created a sensation. The party safely reached
their destination. But it is stated as a fact that they would have made a greater- success in
life had they remained in Whitby.
William Pickell's wife, Nancy, the once reigning belle at the gatherings at Bluff
Point, the daughter of pioneer Willsom the first white child born between York and the
Bay ofQuinte, the frst bride a native of the towaship of Whitby, this woman with her
large family about her in her western prairie home, dies near Waterton, Wisconsin, about
the year 1854.
She was then in her 60th year.
William Pickell married again and again he desired to travel West, this time his
destination being Iowa. Here he died after reaching over 90 years of age, perhaps in 1880.
Three of his sons did not go west with him.
Benjamin Pickell 1815-1880 (My grandfather) Jwrnnen by Blanche Meeker, deceased]
Nelson Pickett 1817-1896
Moses Picked 1826
Benjamin Pickett 1815-1880. (married twice)
First wife. Abegail Some. Her children were Emma Baker, Swab Farewell and a child
that died aged 5. Second wife: Elizabeth Stewart, a womanjuw out from Scotland.
Tbetr children were Elizabeth Stewart, Lydia Thompson. Margaret King, Belding
Picke0, and Nancy Meeker, (Blanche Meekers' mother)
Abraham Farewell's wife was Caroline Stone, a sister of Abigail Pickell
Abraham Farewell adopted Col. Farewell as a small boy.
Nelson Pickell, born October, 1817, married Cynthia Coryell. His homestead on
the northern part of Lot 7, East Whitby was regarded as one of the old landmarks of
Oshawa. He had a number of cbildren, Abraham who went to the states, Jessie of
Wingham, William who died in his youth, David of Oshawa, Deborah Coleman, and
Minerva who married Walter Wilson on the old homestead.
Moses went to the States where a long line of descendants claim him. John
Pickell, in 1794 settled new the Wilson's home. He was a native of VawwmL He lived
wad 1829. His oldest son, William Pickell, hom 1790 marded Nancy Wilson.
The Pickells were believed to have originally lived in Yorkshire, England going to
Holland during the religious upheavals. They lived in Lydw, in Holland, and
intermarried, later coming to America.
John's second family, John, Levi, Wilmot and George left many descendants in
Oshawa. John and Levi followed a sadlor's life, Levi on Lake Ontario, John in the
Upper Lakes. Pioneer Pickell died in 1829, and was buried on the David Aams Earn,
some miles West of Port Oshawa, on the lake shore where he had been living during the
last years of his fife.
12
References for this story are as follows.
I) Dr. Kaiser's book in which he called `The Indiays Chippways
2) Col. Farewell's book in which he calls them Missagas.
3) Peak was also Peaks
4) Picked was spelled, Pickle, Pickell, Piccle, Pickd. Some put the emphasis on the first
syhable, some on the last. My mother spehed bername Pickell.
5) From Pedlar's manuscript in the Toronto Archives, I recieved a peat deal. Pedlar bad
talked to Nelson Pickell who was hom October 18, 1817, on his grandfather's farm on
the lakeshore. He had ant excellent memory and spent his entire life inf the vicinity of the
Wilson homestead.
6) Hazel Worfelk of Whitby found and copied for me the bill of sale, and the will.
7)1 had much information from Gordon Crouse: ---- Relatives informed me of the gun
story and also about the pushes .----- it has been argued that there was no French fin or
trading post. But James Lovekin who lives in Scarborough settled that. He states that it
is shown on Danville's map of 1755, in J. Robinson's "Toronto During the French
Regime" Reprinted by the University of Toronto in 1965. See page 76
FROM OSHAWA"CANADA'S MOTOR CITY" by M. McUFFM HOOD
Copywrim 1968
These lines by Longfellow might well have been attributed to the area which in new
covered by the City of Oshawa before the white man set feet upon this section of
what is now the province of Ontario. The whole district was covered by a dense
forest, through which there ran a broad stream which is now known as Oshawa
Creek. It knew no human habitation save in the woods to the north, the
encampments of the Indians who lived there. Up to about the beginning of the 78th
century, these Indians were the only people who travelled the shores of Lake
Ontario. They were Indians of the Mississauga tribe, part of the Ojibway nation.
When the Indians came there, is shrouded in the mists of antiquity. They may have
been offshoots of the Mississauga bands who were centred on the Credit River to
the West bands which once had ownership of the land on which the city of Toronto
is now situated.
The only means of travel known to the Indians were on foot through the dense
forest, along trails trodden bare by their feet and in canoes on the lakes and
waterways of the district. There was a large settlement of them around Lake
Scugog, where Pon Perry now stands, ane on Scugog 151=4. dah%'uTeaT&%hwwdaL
in wild animals. Fur -bearing species roamed it at will, with beaver, otter and martin
m abundance, fart prey for the Indians Floaters and trappers.
Each spring the Indians came on foot through the forest from lake Scugog to Lake
Ontario, carrying their bundles of furs. At the spot where the Oshawa Harbour is
now located, they loaded Weir furs in canoes which were cached there, and paddled
along the shore of Lake Ontario to the mouth of the Credit River. At that point,
where Fort Credit now stands, was an important trading post. There the Indians
met the French, and later the English traders, and bartered their fors for all kinds of
supplies to take back to their encampments. In this way Were came to be well wom
Paths through the forest leading north from Lake Ontario to the back areas where
the Indians lived.
After the French orders and explorers began to expand their area of opertioos
westward from their settlements in Quebec and Montreal, they found their way
along the shores of Lake Ontario. They were well established in Fort Froment at
Kingston, which was the main base for their traders. It can well be imagined that
these French traders who spread westward from Quebec must many times have
looked up at the vee -crowned hill overlooking Lake Ontario, where the creek ran
into the lake.
They may have at times have taken shelter from storms behind the Bluff, a high
point jutting into the lakejust East of the present Oshawa Harbour. N due time the
fur trade of the Indians ofthe district became so important that somewhere mound
the year 1750, or a little earlier, the French established a trading post near the mouth
of the Oshawa Creek.
Here the French traders built a substantial log building, JU f= 3mbim man'
habitation to be erected in the district. For some yews it was used as head -quarters
for trading between the French and the Mississauga Indians from Scugog, who were
thus saved the long cavae trip to the Credit River. Some time after the British
conquest of Canada in 1759, its use was discontinued and the building was
abandoned. The district was left undisturbed by the white man for about 30 years,
until the year 1790.
Q was then that the white man was to make his first strong imprint on this area,
which in due tine was to be settled and become the focal point for the
establishment of a small community which, with the Passing of years, became the
prosperous industrial City of Oshawa. About that time, a road, known then and to
this day as Kingston Road, was surveyed through the district be Governor Sir John
Graves Slmcne. It ran exactly when King Street is located in Oshawa today. And
almost simultaneously with the laying out of this road, but from a different
direction, came the first while settlement of the Oshawa d' tr [.
Note: (All of the above leads up to the first settlers, our ancestors.) F.G.
Chapter
At about the same time as the survey of the Kingston Rd. began in 1790, the forest
wilderness which is now the city of Oshawa saw the arrival of the first white
settlers. They came form the newly -created Untied States of America. There were
six people in the party. They were-amjamiu W inn, his wife and two sons, James
and David and two young men L. Lockwood and E. Remount. They travelled
overland from their homes in Pennsylvania to Niagara, and then by boat from the
north of Niagara River along the shore of Lake Ontario
Benjamin Wilson was bom in Putney Vermont in 1737. (my notes say 1732)
In his carly life he had moved to Pennsylvania. There he met and married a widow
named Mrs. Lockwood. Her first husband had been cruelly put to death by the
Indians in the Indian warfare which ravaged the state. Wishing to better thew
fortunes, and to remm to a British country after the American Revolutionary War
the Wilsons decided to come to Canada.
Theirjoumey was long and arduous. Travelling was slow, because they brought
with them a yoke of oxen and four cows. After leaving Niagara by boat the oxen
and cows had to be driven along the shore by the two Wilson boys. Sometimes they
had to go a long distance into the clause forest to find a trail. Finally they reached
the location which had been recommended to them by officials at Niagara, and
seated on what was known as Lot No 4, Broken Front just East of the location of
the present Oshawa Harbour.
Here they found, as if waiting for them as a place of refuge, the old log cabin left
there by the French traders. It was in fairly good condition, although requiring
some repairs. Benjamin Wilson and his family and friends made it snug and
comfortable and lived in it while they built a more pretentious house on the land on
which they settled. There was good reason to seater on the land to which the
Wilson family came. It was between what were later known as the Farewell Marsh
and Oshawa Creek. These abounded in fur bearing animals. They provided
abundant marsh grass which served many purposes. In the fall of the year, the
creeks were full of salmon. This provided an abundance of fish, both fresh and
salted, as food for winter. The location also appealed to Benjamin Wilson as a
place of great beauty, although the passing of time has removed the forest and with
it much of the natural beauty of the some.
Settled temporarily the old French cabin, the Wilson family quickly built its new
home. It was high on ground about 150 yards back from the lake shore. It was a
strongly built frame house, bra no traces of it are left to -day. Here Benjamin
Wilson and his little family lived, and year by yew, cleared a little of the forest. He
trapped for fur to trade with Hudson's Bay Company. In this house was borna
daughter, Nancy Wilson, the first
This daughter, Nancy was also the fast bride to be married to a settler in the district
About the year 1794, on the invitation of Benjamin Wilson, John Pickett with his
f tly and one son, William and seven daughters, arrived from Veimont to join the
settlement, and built his home close to that of the Wilsons. On October 30, 1811,
Nancy Wilson become the wife of William Pickell, and they were the ancestors of
maw digummiched citi7ens
B. Wilson was very fortunate in his dealings with Indians of the district.
Notwithstanding the fact that he was trespassing on land which was one of their
favourite hunting grounds, they never committed any violence against the pioneer
settlement It is a matte of historical record that the Indians of some marauding
bands of Mississauga stole some of the settlers provisions. As soon as then grand
old chief, Web-bok-ish-ego learned of these offences, he ordered the immediate
remm of the stolen provisions. Everything was returned that had not already been
aided. He caused a "Wampum Belf-to be hung an the settlers' c kiss, and from that
day on, the Indians committed no more offences, petty or otherwise. The Indians,
indeed, became frequent and welcome visitors as they traversed the wilderness
from Lake Ontario to the back lake country.
Benjamin Wilson prospered in their new home but they missed thicr old friends in
the United States. He became anxious that some of them should come over and
join him in developing a country so rich and full of promise. There were no
streamboats plying the lakes then, nor were there any railways. There were some
rough wagon roads and Indian trials, but no open mads so it was difficult to
communicate with the outside world.
He took advantage, however of the fortunate circustancas that the two young men,
Lockwood and Ransoms, who came over with them, decided to return to the
States. They were entrusted by Wilson with a number of letters to old friends in the
Sums.
It was a result of this that John, Pickell came to settle near him. They arrived in
1794. Pickell, his wife and eight children. Later another daughter made a family of
eleven.
They made progress and were soon comfortable in their Canadian home. However,
the wife and mother died in 1797. After a few years, John Pickell married a second
wife by whom he had fora sons, John, Levi, Wilmot and George. Wilmot and
George left home and settled m Western Ontario. John and Levi become sailors on
the great lakes.
William Pickell. who had married Nairev Wilson, settled on a farm on the third
concession of what was later Whitby Township. It was on what is now knowa ss
Harmony Road North. After the death of Benjamin Wilson, his widow went to live
with her daughter and died about the year 1840, in her 80th year, She was buried in
a small plot of ground near a school house which stood only a few minutes walk
from the Pickell farm. (Harmony Cemetery)
y " f76dG
Heineman Wilson lived over 30 years after settling in the Oshawa district, Hewes
in his 84th year when he died on March,7,1821. Hewes buried near his home.
Some 30 years later, his remains were harshened to the little cemetery on the pine.
crested hill overlooking the harbour. His gravestone can sill be seen there. It bear
ffieinsLTiptim:'4Lum=mofCVlainBmiminWilsm whOdiudMmch7 1821
in h' R4A
Of the members of Wilson's family, James, the eldest son, died in 1873. His
remains rest beside those of his father in the little cemetery overlooking Oshawa
Harbour. David, the youngest son, left Canada about the year 1837 and went in the
Untied States. The other daughter Ann also went to the States, where her
descendants and those of David reside to the present day.
The Oshawa Harbour Cemetery was the first in Oshawa. Competitively unkown to
many residents of the district it is located to the East of the Oshawa Harbour on a
high rise of land which is part of the farm of former Mayor L.Gifford. Overlooking
Lake Ontario and completey surrounded by farmlands, the cemetery is not easily
acessible, a grove of pine trees being the only landmark which establishes its
position.
Another practical result of the letters which Benjamin Wilson sent to his friends in
the United States, materialized when in 1793 two skilled mechanics named Beagle
and Conklin, arrived to scale in the small community. They were Oshawa's first
manufacturers. They made spinning wheels, hand looms and other equipment for
house and fart. They were the pioneer mechanics of 170 years ago. It can be said
to have laid the first industrial foundation for Oshawa. They little dreamed of the
great development of manufacturing which would follow in thein footsteps. But as
long as shaft said pully revolve in Oshawa's busy factories, the names of Beagle and
Conklin should be kept in mind.
End nFh t rmi t�erem ancestor
Benjamin Wilson married to Elizabeth Lockwood theer daughter, Nancy Wilson
married William Pickell October 3rd.18H. Thev had 7 sons and 7 daunhtem. of
these only two mounted in Canada as of 1921.
1) Benjamin Pickell married Abigail Stone, January 18,1837. They had 2
daughters.
1) SAMh who married Captian G om Fe s�•roll
2) Mary Emma, who married Heary John Bak .
2) Nelson Pickell married Cynthia Coryell their children were -
1) Abraham - United States
2) Jessie of Wingham
3) Wilburn, deceased
4) David, Celina Street, Oshawa
5) Debora, married to G. Coleman
6) Manerva, married to Walter Wilson
Abram Farewell, born 1812, married Caroline Stone, January 18, 1837
The above were aunt and uncle to Mary Emma Pickell ( great grand daughter of
Benjamin Wilson and Elizabeth Lockwood)
,#Mary Emma Pickell, married John Henry Baker who had two children, Sarah and
Caroline.
1) Sarah
2) Caroline Baker married Lawson Omar Clifford who had four children.
Frances (Frank), Florence Emma Louise, Aubrey, and Ronald.
1) Frances (Frank) Clifford: deceased bachelor.
2) Florence Emma Louise Clifford married Edward Felix Gabourie
deceased. They had eight children and numerous grandchildren and
great grand children.
3) Aubrey Clifford died as a young child around the age of four.
4) Ronald Clifford, deceased, had one son Gary from fust marriage.
His second marriage to Francis Order,
1A Lanem Gonenement
Ma du Wntle
F
e
MEMORANDUM NOTE DE SERVICE
FROM
OR THE PUBLIC ARCHIVES OF CANADA
OCORHY
CLAIII Of III
0.,.1191,11.11
_]4-2202/15]8
IM., IIII-FFI
IMII
15 March 1971
I IF
OF, Millers, Benjamin (Milson)
A search
of the
various indexes
and
logical
sr ces in our
custody has produced the
following references
to
the
time Benjamin
Willson:
1. We havemarriage
bond of
amin k
lin iSl
son
KitleY Township
and RuthaAdam$ of
Edwardsburghj
Township',
dated
Marchf1836(RG S.
B 9,
- Vol. 32, Bond N0.
5537, microfilm reel C-6]85).
2. The name Benjamin
Wilson
of the Hose District
appears
on the Loyalist
D 4,
ist. 9,
List maintained by
the Ontario
Crown Lands
Department
(MG 9,
pp. 261-262; reel
C-2222).
3. The following references
were taken from
the index to
the Upper Canada
Land Papers:
Name
Date
Place
Reference
Reel -
Willson, Benjamin
1796
Whitby
BE 1,
L3, M
2/59
C-2950
C-2950
•11
1197
York
RG 1,
L3, W
3/49
If
1]9]
Bettie
RG 1,
L3, M
3/52
C-29SO
•• ^
1811
Talbot Road
RG 11
L3, M
10/9
C-2952
••
1812
Willoughby
RG 1,
L3, W
10/57
C-2953
If
1817
Yarmouth
RG 1,
L3, M
11/126
C -29S3
n
1819
York
RO 1,
L3, M
12/149
C-2954
Wilson, Benjamin
-
-
RG 1,
RB 1,
IS M
L3, W
1/26
1/23
C-2950
C-2950
••
1796
Lake Erie
RG 1,
L3, W
2/66
C-2950
1796
Berrie
RG 1,
L3, W
Leasea/3
C-2967
•••
1799
Whitby
(1801-1807)
•
1818
Whitby
RG 1,
L3. M
I1/97
0-2953
•• IF
1819
Darlington
RG 1,
L3, M
12/15
C-2953
•
1831
York
RG 1,
IS. M
16/89
C-2957
•• Benjamin G.
181]Seu[hr03d
BE
is W
/0ook
C-302ISS 3
. ^ Benjamin
-
-
RG t,
L1, Levd E,
pg. 355
RG 1,
Ll, Land Book L,
G-104
„
^
-
-
p8. 513
.,. IM, w, o...,.ew..,,._I`- =
g
e. References wave also located
in
the index to the
British Military
"C" Series (16 a
I, "C" Series):
game
Rank
Regiment
Year
Volume
Pates
Reel
sillaon, Benjamin
Private
let
Lincoln Militia
1813
C 1701
138,103
C-3839.
166
Ensign
let
Regi. Middlesex
1812
C 1103
8
C-3519
Militia
"
1813
C 681
61
C-3173
It
C 1717
93
C -386Q
It1815
C a9
66
C-2666
Milson, Benjamin
Private
let
Batt. Now Jersey
1781
C 1856
93
C-3816
Volunteers
(Mrs.) Janet Feldman
/meh
Laid GmathimdLm§ Sm/enm5 090.(820f 49
ullY
If al I y�Ch asUj 541 G J to
Scrfaiew!rl a had rJ l 6 t 1'p o I L Y ] I792 G or
P It"' 1 4RI.1 i u
la
fcrolh U d9 ntl III 1! df II Fo wp�ll li
vain 14 11J IdSo'6i a"m I ]illnity to the lSalg 11 1 IuvSc cooled
would be I various clerks fegy wltiph I I kept at low luvel by a published
The 4n Farms were m be g2Med-in 200.acte lots, bot could be incmnecd to
f 1,200 ]] ini hedisonalon o(tbc all feel used 20
while sin,wet piwapmpgnn: iWmediate] alnaetm thou dx of Amen-
1 llo bore xttlers nnmFsvard:.ii'un peen aviation, nor ware wore
4, d [o "e Hilt' w e W `ails Tla key to Simmn's Allonimm«on
was orders it carePol alandu�'i9 duties. 'F bus bClaue B"iiamin Wilson
IL had not f11 Jd 'la_in an ••pppn hill,I as not ard,
oapplvi 1 tkowrtg141)9fi,n kfor 4Vl'M
had Ill a II lY lii k II k l
j InoIt' awl I !It onto It
scWC �c J V Hell GI I' in vun
I 'mJ tFc .
They It within , ¢ ii'of two Yells clwr fit fir ubiv and
It so d, lot UGt,InW_ build a final16 ba 20 foroft
al
r- Ial"
l inyl I al dmr IIlabel Cgs
ofand
d -dl dtFcS J9 fret OfAhall IUAL beduurd mnootF
}
and left to, half Ae PVb1`u.+pgd ze
loffiressomr, the
e was loame toff b 1{[h 1 k, d IC leaned ar
'ge laxlmm yur i9final hl(fA p } J [Andy, 1 Wilson's
the patent not received tl Ahab{ Y1J ltlu
F P'akering and Whiff,y ffi leis 1 Carly f
ar ancom land held by fnjohns the military ardtielffiewilig Officials I reccivedb
sellers inclining to make delloomwin Talent, Coun[e. Alter Major Smith's
milparY grant of 4,800 eace ill 1/ll,ehain fathered it whole rerun of large
y
flaunts to pnidah and mail rchadva,. A ut of till gmmn made in omnrin
County in 179Gshays the celedt of Wispmvice:
Canso A ( auJ 7 ill 11JAP Uvrn
(l.prair,(:....nHili b.m ri.I•.rni', nl.y s Ilei:
N'illn H lmp LOU I9k"r nlir a. rJII
Hn .Jubn nnNill-,1.;fu0 %vii n N... Il,
L Gn6
O:nl¢duc(dliv 11,111)11,111)MaClll_y`.Pi10 liakming Non Ili lfi
pf:I Ra h �� VVI b.' Um 15 Ibp
his,-.Thoat f dmWml bD0 AYI-Ii D"
Amhmp'Note, iHe 1 D'Y'J I. 1106
�.}cfcr ttldn„ nvc. SI, I)9l
Admandb efulril '.�oOQ Mllfll) 0" :il. 1]x6
m.,,,mda'nm^r I G colt rewmy oU_ 31, r,96
Lill 1 w !} .
U! Jg ) 1 IOU
ai
d. Unlike M1 k y land
11 11,16d, d ily 2O'j
e v:11"Ift
D due rapid prcr:d o
U,aca"'Is a valeta repro"q2
Iwmlx,inresiumrcn c. II lmoin
I' . r I' N
.Nmol
al
Pi to W110111 it l.dba_nl
nwrheaw ennrra oho ilby'1'ory
lindan lunthan Ellzar Loh, voorl, A'J
Wagahalq, David land tat
Wilson. L"6ackwoan tlk DbeK
In Jrr Leu row ycnrx wJ ww
loxPll 4rany, Ivfzllatz )ndn
Wi Wil lrawwelklJabez Lynde,
and William pickle
'elm Just "fill hy' ju 11111, 611K
the urn of eaw(x js as ab
mo:elacby nonanxrJen boull
asowed across the, Jo hmen bona
Jolson Gibson, ppea al early
any 0.a:wnerrell ou'l N ge"I
rcloanedny Snnmel was
xefl:oote tialseetoa rnr wos ,ed w
`10stk, III
aalsettles p.a, ,, AII
Ili, I.11 L' r am my ndn In, r I,n he
\\sellas!wri At lVersa Llapnphr In
5:17 ...Jan} At tee lame lime Pi
n, Ill women t ar W 51 childh
lacer ole ssment vk Tn: mnipi 1
Tnenevsxmem somnrad I] fm" 1
upcd in pnialio CoPick I bi
ID
uilk y an4 I l in PAtle an In
milk en 4 q] pnwlY eal9 and 2
29 oxen Il milk Ila[ ,I youngr
oriel, PussiblY rhal of"f imolhyi
In 18101,
13Cfwa , I&y and In 11) (lie Dmn
wnpegcJ in aha t Luh
Dm main 81, Z a roll
'G�k4LlamanMP,wi, snunnoq 290-WOi.45
Ile,�idlo anti'I' 11 of York As son as
a lai bh of applicants henna patenting
s 9 k g' dWl 1yd II
res 1 Nall 1 net 1 L f beg, patentee, n
1 en -n6, {Vli tbv and
..ly in arc "fcevnrlbn Ing
�lh.h
e or'hq will, ...r
Irlun 1iill
tkiij,l,,, 8,a,d
:ill an ul'a"I L dblr' rnu
tl in bead I sleall community I, om
my rcmrds show that bi 1801 sellkrs
DNdJ Swphenv, lobo McGWm in,
Townund, Irrd Joined 6cnlamio
17
Ly In tilt 1b ece, rel L,hc
do Willigar), Il deueMood) and
Si vast of the Town Of VILL by)
,ae tVllliwn Peak whJJ o u jnear
:Peak was proal it medially in
mak as wall w by a few seulerswho
I Marlboro Tmyrrsblp. Such narur_s
-rwbe 11, peter Gnwford anal Anrh"
c eprand was xWv chiefly bemuse
s 11 mm land Ong Joe, to lie, 11,11,
r sakes tnILI llnrannin
.arly be (28 aj ,ran,al nJ
s Impulnlion had gr'uwn only lo9b
oinnae1, in 1805, Markham s yo;....thato(W hichurch, 348, `
I low Bowl) naliauhmc hi Jure}
annes
alliNall(k) all
ldle m el Luer 26 Joel,. 50
IN, PancrlogIhu c ) It
d 5 mcn . Pwit fop land rhe old,
nDu m's Greek " I"wh 6 nyorad
of in uniun (pwu a acing taken
al byryn: in Uxbridge ill 1004 on,
led no in r uch of Scuttat by
m Uxbridge (Lill entire arm not
&L
e�
w�Sv,
., Fus'"�D�aaro