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HomeMy WebLinkAbout548Spiral bound book, 14 pages, 23 x 29 cm., complied by Ajax Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee, donated by Bill Lishman. "Settlers of: Pickering TALES OF THE PICKERING CRONKHITES At the heart of this remarkable story is a farm property consisting of a fieldstone house at 709 Westney Road, built in the 1840's and standing yet, in what was then the Township of Pickering, and how a family named Cronk came into ownership of Woodlawn Farm. According to stories that have been passed down from generation to generation in the Cronk family, their original ancestor was a wealthy Dutch distillery owner named Sybald. He had three sons who gave him so much aggravation that he disowned and disinherited them and their heirs for 100 years. They made him so sick he changed their name to the Dutch equivalent of sickness which was something like Krankheldt, so the story goes. They were banished from Holland forever and sent to New Amsterdam. Peter Minuit, the governor of New Amsterdam was a man noted for two things: buying the island of Manhattan from the Indians, and for controlling all dissidents with an iron hand! The Krankheidt boys gave him no trouble. The spelling of the name was changed to Cronkhite, which is still the family's legal name, although the ""hite"" is only used on legal douments. Most of these Cronkhites were farmers and intermarried with the local people who were mostly English. Somewhere along the line some Cronkhites became Quakers, presumably through marriage to English Quakers. However, when the British took Manhattan from the Dutch in 1665, it left the Krankheidts in limbo. Since they were forbidden to return to Holland, they and their families were forced to leave Manhattan, renamed New York by its victors, and seek their fortune in the British colonies. Many fled to Canada where they were welcomed as United Empire Loyalists. The Quakers, as always, stayed strictly neutral. However, some had received notices to report for induction into the revolutionary militia. As it was against their principles to do this, they became fugitives and with their families also fled to Canada. Stephen Cronkhite, who was born in Prince Edward County to Peter Cronkhite and Rachel Bowerman in 1835, was the fourth generation of Cronkhites born in Canada. Around 1830, Robert Betts purchased 100 acres of land in Pickering Township. Robert cleared the land, built a log house, and married his neighbour, Rachel Churchill. The log dwelling was replaced by a sturdy fieldstone house c.1845, to accommodate the needs of the 9 children they were raising at Woodlawn Farm. Their oldest son, John, became his father's able assistant in the fields. Robert and Mary worshipped at the Quaker Meeting House which still stands in Pickering Village. At Quaker Yearly Meeting, Stephen Cronkhite met Mary Adelia Betts, one of Robert and Rachel's daughters. Adella was a schoolteacher, but moved to Prince Edward County to become a farmer's wife when she married Stephen Cronkhite. Robert Betts suffered a great loss when his able son John died in his early 20's. His daughter Adelia's husband, Stephen Cronk, saved the day by selling his own farm in Prince Edward County and taking over Woodlawn Farm in 1876, where they raised four Cronkhites; Elma, Phoebe, Allegra, and Robert. Later on, their son Robert, was taken into partnership, and another house was built on the property where Robert and his wife Marion raised the next Cronk generation. All six of their children were well educated and had successful careers. One of their daughters, Myra Cronk, who was born in 1897, graduated from the University of Toronto. She was a teacher until she married Alan Lishman, an Englishman from Africa. Eventually, they returned to Canada and took over Woodlawn Farm where they raised three children. Their son, Bill Lishman, has become famous as the man who flies with the Canada geese, and for his many brilliant inventions, such as Autohenge and an underground house, to mention only a few. From the banished Dutch Krankheidt boys, came a remarkable succession of fine and very successful family members named Cronk, of whom Sybald could now be Justifiably proud! Submitted by: Judith Goulin Note: The above is based on Information compiled by members of the Cronk family. From: Kindred Spirits Spring 1995 " "The Pickering Cronkhites According to stories that have come down from generation to generation our original ancestor was a wealthy Dutch distillery owner by the name of Sybald. He had three son's who gave him so much aggravation that he disowned and disinherited them and their heirs for 100 years. They made him so sick he changed their name to the Dutch equivalent of sickness which was something like Krankheidt. They were banished from Holland forever and sent to New Amsterdam. The governor of New Amsterdam was Peter Minuit. He was noted for having bought the Island of Manhattan from the Indians and for controlling all dissidents with an iron hand. The Krankheidt boys grave him no trouble but the British took Manhatttan from the Dutch in 1665 and changed the name to New York. This left our Krankheidts in limbo. They were forbidden return to Holland so they and their families were forced to seek their fortune in the British colonies. Our branch of the family gravitated to Upper New York State. The name was changed to Cronkhite which is still our legal name although the ""hite"" is only used on legal documents. Most of these Cronkhites were farmers and inter-married with the local people who were mostly English. Somewhere down the line some Cronkhites became Quakers probably through marriage to English Quakers. The Society of Friends is a religious sect. founded in England in 1650 by George Fox. They were called Quakers because of the adherents continual use of the expression ""Tremble at the word of the Lord"". When the revolutionary war broke out most farmers in this area were openly pro British throughout and found themselves persona non grata when the revolutionists won. Many fled to Canada where they were welcomed as United Empire Loyalists. The Quakers, as always, stayed strictly neutral. However some had received notices to report for induction into the revolutionary militia. This they refused to do. They became fugitives and with their families also fled to Canada. Our ancestors most lively reached Canada in this manner. My grandfather, Stephen Cronkhite, was born in Prince Edward County - Ontario on Oct. 7th 1835 to Peter Cronkhite and Rachel Bowerman. Peter was born in l804 -probably in Canada. He was the son of Jacob Cronkhite and Philadelphia Carman. Jacob was born in 1768 probably in New York State. Jacob's father - John Cronkhite - born 1724 was most likely the one who brought his family to Canada. A feature of the Quaker religion is the yearly meetings which are held at various locations and attended by Quakers from all over United States and Canada. It was at one of these meetings that Stephen Cronkhite met Mary Adelia Betts. (Family reminiscence, Sources not cited) Donated by: Bill Lishman " "Mary Adelia Betts was the daughter of Robert Betts and Rachel Churchill. Robert Betts was the owner of 160 acres of land in Pickering township - Ontario known as Woodlawn Farm. On this property Robert Betts built the fieldstone house which is now designated a National Treasure. Stephen and Adelia were married on Jan. 13, 1859. They took over Woodlawn Farm and raised 4 Cronkhites: Elma - Phebe Jane - Allegra and Robert Henry my father. (born 6-16-1867) My father attended Guilford College - a Quaker college near Greensboro, N.C. Here he met and eventually married Marion White Darden. She was the daughter of John Robert Darden and Martha Jane White. John Robert Darden was the son of Mills W. Darden and Sarah Jane White. Mills Darden owned a plantation near Suffolk Va. and with it the usual complement of negro slaves. When the war between the states broke out - my grandfather John Robert Darden by virtue of some training - being able to furnish a horse, a groom and a remount was commissioned a Captain in the Confederate army. He saw action with Lee's artillery. He was severely wounded at the battle of Gettysburg and was out of the war from then on. After the war the hated Yankee Carpet Baggers flooded the South plundering it of everything possible. Meanwhile Robert Darden went courting Martha Jane White who was not related to Robert's mother -Sarah Jane White. Martha Jane White was the daughter of Jephtha White a very straight-laced, very strict Quaker. There was a story that Jephtha through the settlement of an estate became the owner of a number of slaves. This presented a serious problem since Quakers are unalterably opposed to slavery in any form. Jephtha found it Impossible to dispose of his unwanted property without them remaining slaves. This was unacceptable to Jephtha. The problem was solved at considerable expense by taking them to Richmond, Indiana where there was a large settlement of Quakers. They were placed with different Quaker families who took care of them till they were capable of handling their own affairs. Since Robert Darden was not a Quaker he was not welcomed by the strict Jephtha White. These objections must have been overcome because they were married and raised 4 Dardens. The oldest was Marion White Darden my mother. (born 1-9-1878) When mother and father were married (7-18-1895) they came to live on the farm at Pickering. Mother was very warmly received by her new neighbors. They loved to hear her southern accent and she was soon involved in local affairs. There were two things mother never quite adjusted to: When someone would say ""Oh you're a Yankee"" she learned to grit her teeth and smile. To mother a Yankee was always a no good thieving carpet bagger. The Canadian winters were also somethin to be endured. Mother later became quite well known as she gave lectures and made speeches for The Womens Institute in all the surrounding towns and villages. " "A frame house was built near the fieldstone house on Woodlawn farm where Marion and Robert raised 6 Cronkhites. Gertrude Darden Cronkhite - born Dec. 21,1895. Graduated from Teachers College - started teaching at Leadville Colorado but died in the flu epedemic on Oct 28, 1918. Myra White Cronkhite - born Mar 15, 1897. Graduated from the University of Toronto - taught school - met and married Alan Lishman an Englishman from Africa. Eventually they returned to Canada and took over Woodlam Farm. Here they raised 3 Lishmans: Mary Alaine Lishman born Mar 9, 1935. William Ayton Lishman born Feb 12, 1939. Marion Louise Lishman born Nov 10, 1940 Edith Elma Cronkhite born Apr 8, 1899. Graduated from the University of Toronto in 1924. Died June 19, 1924 - Mastoid. Robert Darden Cronkhite born Jan 26, 1901. Attended Technical school in Toronto and Lynn, Mass, became an engineer for Moore Turbine at Wellsville, N.Y. Married Annette Clifford and raised 4 Cronks: Carol Cronk born Aug 22, 1936. Frances Marion Cronk born Apr 8, 1940. Katherine Ruth Cronk born Apr 3, 1944. Margraret Edith Cronk born July 11,1948 Herbert Willard Cronkhite born Dec 4, 1902. Attended Jarvis Collegiate Institute in Toronto. Became a representative of The American Automobile Association in Detroit. Married Elizabeth Pauline Falger Oct 14, 1933. Raised 3 Cronks. Madeleine Marie Cronk born Aug 15, 1942. Christine Elizabeth Cronk born Oct 25, 1944. Carolyn Ann Cronk born Sept 6, 1946. Stephen Lyndon Cronkhite born May 8, 1912. Attended Pickering College at Newmarket. Became an instructor for The Canadian National Railway at Montreal. Married Marjorie Netta Cox. Marilyn Edith Cronk born Apr 28, 1944. Janet Marion Cronk born Sept 27, 1947. " "A short history of the Pioneer Robert Betts and the present Woodlawn Farm in Pickering Township. The rolling acres of Pickering Township were wooded at the turn of the 1800's when Robert Betts took possession of the 90 acres, Concession 2, Lot 10 and block near Concession 3, to which he soon added 10 acres, to bring his farm out to the concession line. All was [?]forest of maple, beech, oak etc. Fine streams of water flowed toward Lake Ontario, one of which crossed the Betts farm, fish and game were plentiful. Robert Betts traced his ancestry back to his great grandfather Joseph Betts, born in England and said to have land that is now part of the city of London, but which was confiscated by the British during the Revolutionary War. Robert was born in Otsego County, New York State, but was brought up to Ontario, Canada, at an early age by his father Aaron Betts, who took up land which is now a part of Whitby. Another son, Henry Betts, inherited that farm, so Robert looked about [for] a farm whose original deed to him came from the Crown. (The original deed for this parcel of land is in the possession of Mrs. Alan Lishman. Deed registered November 26, 1830, Mary Elmsley to James Brown for 125 Pounds. Purchased by Robert Betts who cleared the land). He proceeded to build his log house and to clear his land, taking unto himself a neighbouring girl, Rachel Churchill for a wife. They had nine children, two of whom died in childhood. The present stone house was built for his growing family during the years 1845-1847. The older children helped by spinning and making their clothes, preserving the wild berries and plums, while the oldest son, John, became his father's able assistant in the fields, for trees had to be felled and split into rails, or hewed into beams for the new house. In fact, the doors of that house today, 1956, are all hand made, a very remarkable workmanship . Robert's wife Rachel, turned over the housekeeping to her older daughters and plied her loom, providing carpets for neighbours far and wide. Yet she always found time to stay up a night with a sick neighbour or help bring to birth the newest baby, and never a tramp passed that way who wasn't fed, and if necessary housed for the night. Both Robert and Rachel Betts were members of the Society of Friends. Never was their work so pressing that they could not attend Thursday morning meeting and of course Sunday was a special day for worship. A couple of generations ago, the Quaker Church building (now the Masonic Temple) was the Church with the largest congregation in the Village of Pickering. " "-2- Robert Betts was a quiet living man, there are no records of him dipping into politics. He was far too busy turning his wooded acres into arable land that he might feed, clothe and educate his family. His daughter, Eliza, taught the first school on the farm of Gervas Cornell, adjoining on the East side. Daughters Caroline and Adelia, also were teachers, but all three in a few years became wives of substantial farmers. Adelia, the fifth child, carried on by educating all four of her children for teachers, one of whom, Elma Cronk, spent 40 years of her life in the Ontario schools. Robert Betts met with a great loss when his son John died in his early 20's. His daughter Adelia's husband, Stephen Cronk, came to the rescue by selling his own farm in Prince Edward County, and buying that of his father-in-law, taking possession in the autumn of 1876. Later on, his son, Robert Cronk, named after his grandfather, was taken into partnership, another house was built on the farm, another family of six children reared there and another 50 acres were added. Today, pioneer Robert Betts, has three great-great-grandaughters, the fifth generation, enjoying farm luxuries of which he never dreamed; pushing buttons for lights instead of home-made tallow candles, and wonder of wonder, purebred Ayrshire cattle being milked by a machine in a ""cow parlour"" and chewing their cud in a ""loafing barn"". Yes, the farm has gone ultra modern under the ownership of Robert Cronk's daughter, Myra, and son-in-law Alan Lishman. ---Written by Robert Bett's 84 year old granddaughter, Allegra Cronk, living at Thousand Oaks, California. ""On a midsummer evening in 1894 the train stopped at the old Grand Trunk Railway station in Pickering and a yound couple alighted. This was Robert Cronk and his twenty-four year old bride from North Carolina, Marion Darder Cronk, who was to live for over seventy years in the country she had entered. The early part of her life was taken up with her family and the farm activities. Marion had come from a Quaker community and had met Robert at Guilford College, in North Carolina, which they both had attended. Pickering, also a Quaker settlement, with Pickering College as its centre, provided much, both socially and educationally. However, things were changing, and in 1905 the College burned down. Also during this period many families went West, and aside from Church activities, Pickering was rather a dull place. " "-3- By this time the Women's Institute was getting publicity. Whitby and Kinsale had organized branches and in 1908 the Pickering branch was formed. From the beginning Marion was a very active member and this continued throughout her life. Whenever she was asked to do anything she did it to the best of her ability. Marion Cronk was particularly interested in better laws for women and education. She herself studied the Handbooks very carefully and when she became District President in 1918 she had already been a local President for eight years. In 1924 she was a speaker for the Department of Agriculture and enjoyed visiting the different institutes where she had made some wonderful contacts. She enjoyed the work very much but a death in the family brought it to an abrupt end. She received many tokens of appreciation, including a life membership but she always felt that the Institute had done more for her than she had given. She along with the other District Presidents was able to attend the diamond anniversary of the Kinsale Women's Institute and at the diamond anniversary in Pickering she was one of the two charter members to be honoured. On Mr. and Mrs. Cronk's 25th Wedding Anniversary the Pick. Branch presented her with a watch as a token of love from each member. After she ceased to be so active with the Women's Institute she worked with the Society of Friends and was Correspondence Secretary for years. On January 1st, 1967, Marion Cronk passed away. She would have been 97 years old on the 9th of January. She had a very full life. "" ---Quote from the Lady Tweedsmuir book. " 14 F L✓..� ✓Ir.' < y 744 yr "PAST YEARS IN PICKERING BENNETT. — William Bennett and Charlotte, his wife, came from England in 1833 and settled on Lots 23 and 24, Con. 9. Their house, built in the fifties, of brick was one of the finest houses in the township at the time, and with its spacious rooms and the massive woodwork of the interior is surpassed by few to-day. Their family were: Betsy (Mrs. Merton), Mary (Mrs. W. C. Little, of Barrie), Thomas, Charlotte (Mrs. Lumley, of Minesing), Susan (Mrs. John Bundy, of Linwood), Charles, of Barrie. Mr. Bennett retired to a house built for himself half a mile south of Claremont in later years. He died in 1872. His son, Thomas Bennett, married Barbara McLelland, widow of Mr. Borland. Their three sons still live in the township. C. O. Bennett on Lot 23, Con. 9, and Walter and Sydney on Lots 21 and 22, Con. 6. Thomas Bennett died in 1909 and Mrs. Bennett in 1910. BETTS. — Aaron Betts, with five sons and one daughter, came to Pickering from New York State in 1824. His third son, Robert Betts, settled on Lot 10, Con. 2. The stone farm house was built in 1846. Here seven children were born and reared. The farm is still occupied by his grandson, Robert Cronk. Bentley. —William, Nathan and James L. Bentley were born in New York State near Syracuse. William came to Canada in 1829 and located on the 6th Concession. He opened the first store at what came to be known as Bentley's Corners in 1835. He died in 1860. Nathan came in 1831 and purchased the bush farm, Lot 32, Con. 9, where he resided continuously till his 222 " CARD vXa®>m U ALAISMrexnr Pate 1 ar 4 IMm ftI Irt MR 169t Me 11151 M U,wll iv..Prime Ed lick KA a. MI on R 01 ANN, PLAMP "W d FATHER- liA IIARMAR W PARAM, RIX: IW HARTHER7 WIWII EMIES'B19 CHILDREN 1. E-S9MN MAD M: Mt IVB KASS. MADE;DIED; MIAMIMAR- I 2. ME: PIMA MM11E-0174 ARM 101 MIAMI "M pRA MMI DIED- MASS. R� vry X. K4M RIM. I4VB ARM MADE N dR 017E ARMS; µt IAK HASK O11ier Ip..Pri:m BJwwW,l CHR, PLAM; DID; KAM. ALASKA Ma'ille B. pSP'-YR3 MIN. 14710 m 1O0 .Prlr¢ EOwM. 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WE x81)1 i!�,i9"pInv. Baunau+p.ol1, 9ieeti) 3 . 61, to. dd.l Q WM. JWiee N, kit Up 21 naMed, KN m, 5[g6n il. "ta1Q 15, of then X. 13, pMe A. 9, peter B. 6 IMW J. 3, Mi Wi11, q 444 di W l Met 47 Deme 9l IMlmetim m dvHo. MILD p •Ml1ip m DAN m Xelloell ip. 6Pdlm to Me Imi mea. (DIV. 5, sheet 34 pge 6]) MILD xwaia¢: omntY Menage Bglnen of Ontario, OnaO IMVIW WLs 3, pelma wed Miner, ylms t. IM, pate 14. Bytom lm M n,"1W 11 W. "UPDATE ON PAST ISSUES Some questions have been raised from time to time with our articles. Our Readership has been kind enough to fill in some of the blanks! On Skae's Corners. Winter 1996 Whitby-Oshawa Branch member, Mrs. Marlon Starkoski, graciously answered my request for additional Information on the Edward Skae family. She submitted page 22 of the book ""Genealogy of the Currie Family"" which mentions the marriage of George Currie to Sarah Ann Cronk on the 3rd of December, 1845 in Oshawa, ""at the home of her sister. Mrs. Edward Skae."" No other people with the name Skae have been spotted in the Oshawa area records for these early years, and Edward Jr. is still to young to be wed in 1845, so most likely the senior Edward Skae's wife was Mary Cronk (providing Sarah Ann wasn't a widow]. Many thanks to Marion for bringing this information to our attention. Stephen Wood On the Lynde s of Whitby. Spring 1995 The Lynde family is an early New England name. About 1634. Ensign Thomas Lynde emigrated from Norfolk England, and settled near present day Boston, MA. With him and his wife, Elizabeth (Tufts), was his teen age brother-in-law, Peter Tufts. Lynde purchased the penny ferry across the Charles River, which Peter operated for a time. Peter went on to found a brick yard and acquired over 800 acres of land in Maiden and neighbouring Medford. In the 1690's as an old man. he testified at the Salem witch trials. His brick house, which is still standing, is depicted on the City seal of Medford, the home of Tufts University. Peter is buried nearby at Bell Rock Cemetery, Maiden, MA. Peter married Mary Pierce. Her brother, Thomas Pierce Jr. was the forefather of the New England president, Benjamin Pierce. The Tufts and Pierce families spread out into the (New) Hampshire Grants early in the next century and I have no reason to doubt that the Lynde family featured in your article had a similar migration pattern. Bill Tufts, Editor, Ottawa Branch News, OGS On the Cronk/Cronkhlte family. Spring 1995 The Cronk family is one I came across in a small New Brunswick village, St. Martins, Saint John County. The Cronkhite/Cronkite surname dates back to 18th-century Dutchess County, NY. In that region, the Society of Friends (Quakers) established an extensive community in the north and eastern part of the county. The article mentions that some of the family lived first in Prince Edward County, Ontario, which was the home of several Loyalists from Dutchess County, some of whom had an affiliation with the Society of Friends. This refers to a previous Kindred Spirits article.: Bill Tufts, Editor, Ottawa Branch News, OGS Tales of the Pickering Cronkhites - Spring 1995 edition, pp. 5-6 On the English family. Fall 1994 The book 'Omemee"" by Williamson says that two English brothers and a Cottingham came up from Cavan to what was to become Omemee, and cleared the land there when the survey parties were still mapping the area. The next year, 1821, Emily was opened to settlement and the brothers built cabins. They were subsequently joined by three other brothers. Between them, the five brothers had nearly 40 children (I think I have record of 38). One, a daughter of Andrew English, was my great grandmother, and she lived her life in the town. There is a street in Omemee called English Street, and this is undoubtedly named after the family. The story that has been passed down In our family is that the ""English's"" were originally French, possibly with the surname ""Darling"". As Hugenots they fled to Ireland where the locals began calling them the English because they weren't Irish. In time, the new name was adopted by the family and the French name dropped. I would stress that this account Is entirely unconfirmed. Also, I would mention that I believe other families may have adopted the same name, ""English"" for similar reasons, and there were quite possibly unrelated families by that name In early Canada. The people in your article may or may not have come from the Cavan or Omemee families I would be most interested in hearing from anyone who has done research on the English's of Omemee. Alan Elliot Copied from pp 12-13 Volume 15 Issue 3 Kindred Spirits Summer 1996 "