HomeMy WebLinkAboutX2024-029-041April 5. Saturday. Sailed
from Alloa about midday
with a favourable wind
and that night reached the
Island of May.
Sabbath 6th This day the
wind continued favourable
and bore us on pleasently
as far as the mouth of the
Moray Firth.
Monday 7th This morning
the wind headed us and
blew rather fresh so that
we made no progress north
ward, and as we were
standing pretty far out at
sea the swell—was very
considerable. The greater
part of the passangers were
sick. These consisted of
Mr & Mrs Arnott and
their Family, together
with myself. Mr Robert
Johnston, and our servants
as cabin passangers;
also Mr John Sharp as a
passanger in the captains
cabin: and as steerage
passangers David Inglis
with his wife and family
about twelve or fourteen
in number, Mr Black
from the nieghbourhood
of Dune with his wife
& family consisting of
“bardoch chields and clever
WHAT’S INSIDE
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PATHMASTERPICKERING TOWNSHIP HISTORICAL SOCIETY
SPRING EDITION VOLUME 27 NUMBERS 3 & 4 PART 2
From the journal of Ebenezer Birrell (1800-1888).
Eighteen years after Charles Fothergill set sail for Canada from Liverpool, England,
Ebenezer Birrell boarded the General Graham in Alloa, Scotland to do the same. Not yet
married, Birrell, like Fothergill, was travelling alone. Unlike Fothergill, however, Birrell
spent his time on board with the other passengers.
JOURNAL OF EBENEZER BIRRELL, 5 APRIL TO 28 APRIL 28, 1834(Private Collection)
Transcribed by Beverley Williams and Dr. Robert Roden
c Having
presented
Charles
Fothergill’s
journal of his
voyage to Canada in 1816 in
part 1 of this issue, we now
present Ebenezer Birrell’s
journal of his voyage to
Canada in 1834 in part 2.
c Comparing
the two
journals we
find some
similarities
in the background of the two
men, but also great differences.
The journals are a reflection of
their own personalities.
An Early Nineteenth Century Voyage from the Old World to the NewC C
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Portrait of Ebenezer Birrell
NOTES MADE DURING A VOYAGE FROM SCOTLAND TO CANADA,
IN THE GENERAL GRAHAM OF ALLOA, CAPTN CRAIGIE —1834.
huzzies” [?] nearly a score, with
a number of others with whose
names I am not yet acquainted
besides these bipeds there are of
quadrupeds not less than eight,
all of the canine class. They seem
to stand the sea well, and when
allmost all the other passangers
were peuking with sickness they
like myself never hung a feather.
This night darkened down upon us
with a right contrary wind, but our
worthy Captain keept his gallant
ship firmly up to it, and to say the
truth she breasted the waves in
excellent style.
Tuesday 8th This morning found
us much in the same place in which
we were upon the night of the 6th,
only we if anything had gained
ground northward, and by our
keeping well out, and the wind
rather easting, we had the
windward of many sail which
were struggling to pass the same
strait with ourselves. This gave us
some advantage over these, but
as the wind blew precisely against
us, things continued much as they
were both as regarded the ship and
with regard to the inmates thereof.
Only new faces were occasionally
presenting themselves above deck,
more like as if they had been speued
than speuing for two or three days
past. The wind continued to east
and we intertained good hopes of
getting through the Pentland Firth
tomorrow.
Ere night most of the passangers
showed face above an in all made
rather a bussy looking scene, altho
in many cases not a very lively one.
Wednesday 9th This morning
dawned with good hopes, and
fair promises of getting well and
favourably through that charibdis
of the North the Pentland, and
which were destined to be realized.
We were in sight of the high lands
of Caithness all the forenoon
and by a manfull and successfull
maneuver we easily wethered
Jonny Grotts [John o’Groats]
and passed the Skerries in the
finest and most gallant style. We
had what is the most favourable
passage a fair wind and ebbing tide,
which seems to whirle and eddie
over a fathomless gulf bounded
by wild and perpendicular clifs
of great height, and very rugged
appearance; backed by barren cold
desolate heathery bluffs. The scene
is indeed a cheerless and desolate
one indeed.
The wind continued favourable
and moderatly fresh, which made
us march with solemn and stately
pomp along the tide. We have
a good view of the snowey and
wild hills of Sutherland shire and
altogether we as a whole were in
good spirits and as a number of
very good musicians were on board
and good instruments we had some
excellent music and a dance was
kicked up foreward, which was
maintained for a time with good
spirit: we came in sight of the light
of Cape Wrath, the sky was serene
and altogether the scene pleasant,
and I believe much enjoyed by most
on board—it was fitted to please a
soul less hurt than mine,
And please if anything could
please
That fixed unalterable care.
Forgoes not what she feels within.
Shews the same sadness every
where
And slights [?] the season
and the sum [sun].
I went up in the darkining to
take a last fond look of the blue
hills and deep dark glens of the
land of my birth,
The land of mountain and of
flood.
Farewell old Scotland’s hills and
dales,
Those heathy hills and fertile vales,
Those scenes where wretched
fancy roves,
Pursuing past unhappy loves.
Scotland, my county, shall I see
thee no more, Land of Freedom
and freemen, Land of health &
of beauty, thou holdest all that I
ought to value—all that I love.
My fair, My loved.
Tis for love of Thee & not itself
Life seems a thing to covet.
For Thee alone I pine for helf [her,
self, pelf].
For thee could stoop to love it.
This closes the scene connected
with the view of our native land
and commences fairly and truly
our voyage across the Atlantic.
When one’s own native land
seems Mistified by distance.
Tis then that we begin our
Nautical existance.
Thursday–10th This morning as
yesterday dawned with a fine
fair sky, and a moderate but
favourable wind, before which
we went on beautifully with all
sail set!
We were now fairly out at sea, no
land seen.
But all around the sky and sea
Mingled their gay imensity.
The wether was on the whole
favourable & pleasant, and we
spent a happy and hopfull day,
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Journal page
but toward evening the breeze
slackened, and when night
darkened down we were scarcely
making any progress the evening
however was closed by a variety
of fine music both vocal and
instrumental, and a dance. This
closes the outward scenes of the
day, but the ever active mind has
its own world in which it must
luxuriate unfettered by those
outward circumstances which
may appear to external observers
most to affect it. It is rather a
curious feeling to be thus upon
the wide waters, a wanderer
without a home; a volantry exile
from that land where moulder
the ashes of the venerable
dead—those revered ancestors
whose honoured names shall
decend with honour & respect
to the latest posterity. For what
have I left that land, where are
all those whom I respect, where
are all those of my early friends
whom I have valued; where are
all the friends of my maturer
years—those kindred souls
with whom I have taken sweet
council, and into whose bosom I
have with the fullest confidence
poured out the most secret
throbings of a wayward heart;
and where dwells the object
of my most tender regards. To
lay aside all sentamentality and
solemnly answer this question
truly exercises my soul. And
as a candid and concientious
answer I must say that there is
nine tenths of the cause arising
from that untameable spirit of
inquiry and adventure, which
I have ever felt stirring within
me—that unquenchable thirst
for knowledge, which shall last
throughout all those boundless
ages of that interminable
existance which I have only and
scarcely yet commenced.
Friday 11th This morning
dawned upon us just as, and
where, yesterday left us all but
a dead calm, little wind and
that same against us. The day
however was delightfully fine
and spent by those on board
the General Graham everyone
as he best could.
Saturday 12th This day was as—
yesterday and of lazyness and
listlessness much more abundant.
a good number of vessles however
were in the near neighbourhood,
which tended to relieve the tedium
of the scene—but
“With Flapping sails and idle prow.
The vessles throw their shades below”.
This night closes fully a week
of our watery sojourn and all on
board seem to enjoy the voyage
with more spirit than might have
been expected on board of a
vessel where all are in a manner
without a home.
My young Friend Robert
Johnston has been I believe fully as
ill of the sickness as any on board—
he is still weak for want of food
but is now got quite well and in a
fair way of gaining strength.
Sabbath 13th This upon the
whole has been a delightfull day,
sunny and bright and warm in
the forenoon, but getting cold
and somewhat foggy and misty
towards evening: but the calm
still continuing, we made little
or no progress in our westing.
Many of the passangers seemed
to be busily employed in reading
books sacred to subjects suitable
to the Sabbath of rest; whilst
others spent the day with that
regardless listlessness, which is
so likely a consequence, of a
change from all the staid, fixed
and regular solemnities, suitable
and generally practised upon this
sacred day. Night closed in with
that calm solemn appearance
which would almost say, that
nature’s self observed a rest upon
this holy day.
Monday 14th This morning was
ushered in with a clear sky and
brisk breese, pretty much in our
favours, and all sail set: as the
day got up the breeze freshened
and of necessity the sail was
shortened. The afternoon was
rather cloudy and louring [?], the
breeze freshened into a gale; and
the sea rose considerably;- it was
cross running and the ship rolled
very much. Things got rather
into a settled state (at least as
regarded passangers) pretty early
in the afternoon. The Dogs which
on the whole made rather good
sailors were early kennaled up,
and full scope left for the activity
of the men, which was called
into operation in consequence of
the stormy state of the sea and
winds—when I looked up in the
evening, appearances were rather
of the gloomy cast; the sails were
a good dale [deal] taken in; the
Fore sail was flapping at the yard,
and split from bottom to top,
the sea was rolling pretty high,
and still rising and the breese or
gale rather increasing. The sky
looked as like a blustery stormy
night as many that I have seen.
I believe that we are now about
18° W.L. and about 57° N. L.
We must have sailed more than
a thousand miles and may be
fully 800 from the guide town of
Dunfermline, and probably 600
from any land.
The reflection, that one is so
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situated, in the midest [midst]
of a stormy and fathomless
ocean; with no security for
life, but a little of the very
imperfect workmanship, of very
imperfect man; is probably not
the most pleasant in the world.
But upon the other hand, such
workmanship and materials, have
often in similar circumstances
proved more than equal to the
task assigned them; and shewn
the wonderfull power over water
[mater, matter] which man’s mind
has; endowed and supported and
directed as he is, by the Almighty
Archetict of the universe. That
Glorious being who has made
the sea and the dry land; and
whose word even the winds and
the sea obey. That we are at all
times at his disposal, and under
His protection; And that he shall
in all cases and circumstances,
overrule everything for his own
Glory, and for the greatest good
of those who are truly his own,
ought to encourage all to trust
to him alone, and not to put our
confidences in another.
Tuesday 15th This Morning
and day very much resembled
yesterday, both the wind and
sea were more moderate in the
forenoon, but both increased as
the day advanced, our course, has
in consequence of the direction of
the wind, been sheaped [shaped]
somewhat in a more northerly
direction than could have been
wished; our average of sailing
yesterday was probably 7 to
8, but today our rate has been
somewhat less. Whether the sea
is more favourable or not this
night-I do not know I think it
much the same as yesterday but
is stricking [striking] the vessel
much more frequently: this
may arise from our feeling a
stroke upon the quarter, much
more sensibly than on the bows,
where the sea mostly came
yesterday but on the whole
the sea is not so high, and the
wind if anything rather more
favourable. All the top Gallant
sails are in and a reef in the top
sails themselves—the wind quite
strong enough for that canvas.
Wednesday 16th The whole of
this day has rather been of the
gloomy and stormy order, no
sunshine—but the sky covered
by a kind of haze or mist,
looking sometimes as if the sun
would break through, and at
other times very gloomy: the
wind continued tolerably fresh
throughout the day, and towards
evening accompanied by rain; its
direction is such as enables us
to hold a course about due West,
and to mentain [maintain] a rate
of sailing of 6 to 7 or so. The sea
run pretty high in the morning,
and was in some instances what
is called Taping [?] i.e. when two
waves running in a somewhat
different direction, rush together,
and are gathered into a somewhat
conical figure—break and lash
their foam and spray upwards
“Such corrywreckor’s [?] surges
driven
Meet, mount and lash the breast
of heaven”,
Toward midday however, and
during the afternoon in [it] was
much more moderate. Many of
the passangers have again been
sick and few showed their faces
above board to day—and those
who did, were in most instances
rather pale looking about the
gills. Mr Arnott has been very
poorly during the day, and Mr R.
Johnston has not been out of bed
for two days past.
A new scene, and a rather
amusing one occurred, which
was occasioned by a flock of
Porpoises playing in the water
around the ship; the news of this
made the Hatchway vomit forth
in hurried confusion the vomiting
inhabitants below—all of us were
amused, and a good dale [deal]
surprised at the rapid motions of
these animals, and their curious
appearances above water.
This day we are about 25° W.L.
and I believe about the latitude of
the Pentland firth, and continuing
to work on westward, tho’ in
a somewhat laborious manner,
through the turmoil of our
troubled path way. The rolling
and pitching of the ship, makes
it rather painfull to lie in bed,
and last night only snatches of
unquiet rest was obtained—this
night does not seem to promise
any thing more favourable as
regards the bed being a fixture for
rest; whatever it may be in Law.
Thursday 17th This morning
was as yesterday, gloomy,
and altogether of a stormy
appearance —and continued so
during the day: in the afternoon
and evening the breeze stiffened,
and in the early part of the night
the motion of the Vessel was very
uncomfortable indeed. I was led
to suppose from appearances,
and from the laborious way in
which the ship was working her
way, that it was rougher wether,
and bordering more nearly upon
a storm, than I was willing to
believe was the case. Indeed from
the long continued S.W. wind,
and from its intensity; the sea had
got up to a great height, but from
my want of experience in these
matters I was not able to say
what its proper name was—but
from an inspection which I have
had of the ships Logboard I see
that the wind is called a stiff gale
and the sea a “tremendeous one”
running from the S.W.
Nothing could be more
uncomfortable than the motion
of the ship during this night
the sea was cross running, i.e.,
coming upon the vessel in a
diagonal direction, and made her
both pitch, and roll dreadfully
at the same time. That added
to the uncomfortableness of the
situation in which we were in,
was the continual groaning, and
creaking of the new frame work
about the fittings of cabin.
Friday 18th Last night may be
said to have been throughout
very uncomfortable altho’ in
the morning things were a good
dale [deal] smoother down. The
wind had shifted into the N.
W. and still continued to blow
fresh, but not what might be
called a gail, the ship now had
altogether changed her course
and from going rather to the
N. of W. was now going about
S.S.W. being somewhat more
to the S. than the true course
which it would be necessary for
her to sail, from where she was
last night, to a place she must
be at on the banks, her place
last night or noon was 29o W.
and about N. Lat. the progress
made today has been at a much
less rate 4 to 5 while yesterday
it was 8 to 10 but the wether
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Portrait of Ebenezer Birrell
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is this afternoon looking much
more cheerfull, particularly from
what in [it] was yesterday, for the
whole of that day was a foggy
wet cold blustering boistrous day
deepening into a stormy night,
while today the wind has been
more moderate—the sun looking
as if it would break through, and
actually did so in the afternoon,
while towards evening the wind
has slackened so much as not
to to keep the ship steady. The
flapping sails are
“Now wooing the breeze & now
woman like scorning
The lover whose home is yet deep
in her breast,”
The wind has northed
somewhat and its cold is very
intense. We are probably now
fully ½ across the open atlantic.
We know what that sea is in a
calm. That lazy, heavy, sluggish
sickening roll. What it is a fresh
breeze, when all is life, & hope,
and happyness—while the sea
is gathering up into the broad
Atlantic swell, and and prepairing
for that more dangerous state of
affairs which we experienced last
night—a stiff gail of wind a cross
and tremendous sea running—
and the ship literally labouring
under the pressure of the winds,
and groaning and quivering in
all her timbers from the dreadfull
effects of the more powerfull
element below.
Saturday 19th April and, 15 th of
our voyage. This morning found
us much in the same place as we
were last night for the calm was
so great as not to give the vessel
sufficient motion as to guide
her—but as morning advanced
the wind freshened into a fine
and favourable breeze from S.W.
or rather S. which enabled us to
get on at 5 knots and increased
to fully 8 in the evening when
the staysails and top gallant
sails were taken in—the staysails
having been hauled in during the
afternoon.
Everyone of our party have
been on deck today dogs and all.
The wind is rather stiffening into
a hard breeze the sea is getting
up so as to make the motion of
the vessel unfavourable to writing
and sleeping—the whole of this
day has been very foggy the
fogg close around and wetting
the rigging so much as to be
falling in layr [layrs, layers] and
uncomfortable drop on the
deck: no sail seen, & the sun
imperfectly seen through the haze
at the meridians.
Sabbath 20th The whole of this
day has been characterised by that
slow, lazy, sluggish wet, foggy
uncomfortable wether which
renders it impossible to be on deck
and very gloomy any where else:
the wind had fallen a good dale in
the morning from what it was last
night, but the sea had got up so as
to render the rolling and pitching
of the vessel very uncomfortable.
The deck being very wet when I
was passing along it I slipd and
fell heavily in consequence of the
rolling of the ship—it also pitched
when I was falling so that I was
completely overturned and fell on
my shoulder against the corner of
the main hatchway by which the
clavicle process or upper condile
[?] of the scapula is bruised. The
pain is only great when the part
is touched. After the fall I became
exceeding sick and indeed almost
fainted, however it might soon
been worse & I trust will very
soon be better. My little Terrier
Brirk [Brick, Brisk] had this day
a very fine litter of Pups, seven in
number but from a fall she had
down the companion stair two
days ago, two of them were
dead; one of which a perfect
beauty for a Scotch terrier, black
with tawn legs, breast & spots
above the eyes. The whole of
this day was past with in gloomy
confinement; very few if any of
the passangers were above, and
these only for a very short time.
The ship altho’ she held on her
way made little progress.
Monday 21st This Morning was
ushered in by a tolerable fair
and fresh wind the sea moderate
and studding sails set, & during
some parts of the day stay sails
also were set; but as the day got
on the breeze freshened & these
were taken in; the gallant top
sails also; & the topsails before
night were reefed—during the
early part of the day the fogg
was very thick, and occasional
rain, the wind from S. towards
evening it cleared off however
and the Decks dried: there was
a pretty full congregation of the
passangers on the Windward
gangway when a number of fine
songs were sung; amongest others
there was a very appropriate one
called the Emigrant composed
by Houston Dunf.[?] which see
appendix. We have made a good
dale of westing within these some
days and are now about 38° W.
Lon.
Tuesday 22nd All last night and
this day the wind has continued
rather a fresh breese, and we
have been running in a S.W. by
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W. course, at the rate of 6 to 8
knotts. All this day the sea has
been running rather high; during
the morning and early part of
the forenoon the sea it had more
of a troubled and tempestuous
look than I have yet seen it altho’
not near so high—it was running
somewhat cross, at least so as to
give the ship a very unpleasant
kind of wambling [wobblings]
motion, by which I believe I have
been more affected than at any
former time of this voyage. I have
not yet been sick, but several
times this day have found a kind
of unpleasant fullness about the
top of my stomack, and thats
more so when it was in reality
most empty. We are today about
51° 30’ N. Lat. and 42° W.
Lon.—are now running at a good
rate under a fair press of canvas
the Spanker [Spinnaker], Main
& Fore sail, The Gibb three top
sails, and Gallant top sails all
full. This afternoon has been
rather fine the haze which was
pretty close during the forenoon
cleared mostly off, and we had a
while of cheerfull sunshine, but
the night is getting rather more
of a cloudy and stormy aspeck,
& our gallant ship getting some
rather hard thumps from the
raging & still rising sea.
Mr Ian…, a son-in-law of Mr
Blacks, an excellent musician;
who plays the keyed beugal
[bugle], favoured us this evening
with some excellent music, on
that instrument; which suits an
exposed or outdoor — auditory
excellently. We have frequently
been obliged by the excellent
performance of this musician,
whose talents has been the cause
of many of our hours passing
pleasantly away. Our Buletine of
health to day has rather been of
that doubtfull kind, which may
be expressed by saying that the
symptons of their horrors the
passanger on board the General
Graham are this day no worse.
My young friend R. Johnston
has not been out of bed for three
days, he is weake, and can hardly
be said to have been well since
the second day of our voyage.
We had a sight of a Brigg this
morning about two miles off,
upon our Wether bows, but our
rate of sailing soon brought her
right opposite to us, and in no
great length of time she was
completely distanced and we
lost view of her on our wether
quarter. I forgote to note altho’ it
is worthy of being mentioned in
these Loggs that upon the 15th
day of our voyage I ate bannoks
and fresh, butter both made
in Kinnesswood—that was the
last of the bannock, but I expect
of have sweet butter to tea for
nearly a week yet. It is beautifull
as gold and paracious [precious]
as fresh water.
Wednesday 23rd All last night
and this morning continued
rather stormy & rough, and the
vessel pitching a good dale but
still going awa pretty freely. The
morning and throughout the day
the wind blew very cold from
the West, to which it changed in
the morning; and in consequence
the vessel was holding something
of a S.W. course, but about 10
A.M. she was put about, and
has during the day held a course
N. W. by W. or so. The wind
blew so very cold, as to induce
Mr Sharp to go aloft to look out
for Ice, from which we concluded
the cold came; but none was in
view. In trying the temperature
of the sea water I found it to be
37o while the Thermometer in
the wind indicated 34o showing
that something colder than the
water of the sea is affecting the
wind as it blows towards us: in
the morning a snow bird came
to the ship, and lighted several
times, I did not see it however, as
it had gone off before I was on
deck. The whole of this day has
rather been disagreeable wet in
the morning and cold throughout
and few of the passangers were on
deck at the same time during any
part of the day. Our rate of sailing
has this day varied from 7 knotts
in the morning to about 2½ only
in the evening. Mr Arnott has not
this day been out of bed, but there
he has not been quite idle. Robt
Johnston is also much as he has
been for some days.
Thursday 24th This morning
the wind had shifted and was
blowing out of nearly the North
and was blowing a fine breeze,
the vessel running at a fine rate
freely and pleasantly and carrying
no less than 18 sails. The Gibb &
fore staysail the three sails on the
fore mast the Fore and Foretop
studding sails to windward: two
StaySails between the Fore &
Main Masts. The three sails on
the Main Mast with the Main-
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top & Main-top-gallant studding
sails to wind ward—the Mizzen
Staysail The Spanker [Spinnaker]
Sail, and the Mizzen top & top-
Gallant sails. We have continued
throughout this day to run a
course nearly … and at a rate
of from 9 to 7 ½ knotts during
the forenoon the sunshine was
delightfull, the sky clear, the
air dry & bracing; but about 2
o’Clock it became very foggy and
damp: The appearance of the
sea was considerably changed,
the water had a much lighter
appearance; and on trying its
temperature I found it as low
as the freezing point 32o whilst
the air was as high as 40o —
these two circumstances taken
together induced the Captain
to think that we were passing
the Flemisher Cape Bank, and
might be in soundings: sail
was slackened, and the lead
prepaired, and thrown; but no
word of bottom came up with
the well buttered leads. We had
the felicity of seeing some whales
at about a quarter of a mile off.
What I saw of them, only was a
blacklike appearance occasionally
presenting itself and a jet of spray
thrown up, as if from a rather
wide, but not very strong pipe
of a force pump. A pretty full
muster of the passangers was
made this forenoon on deck,
and the health of our own party
rather improving, both of our
invalides having been out of bed
during the greater part of the day.
We this afternoon had flour
scones and sweet butter to
tea, both delightfull. In the
expectation of being on the
Fishing Banks tomorrow I
have this day prepaired my
line and hooks in hopes of
catching a fresh cod or two if
the vessel is not running at too
great a rate of sailing.
Friday 25th This morning was
delightfull, clear sunshine, and
almost a dead calm; but the cold
had been so intense last night as
to have frozen the water caused
by the fogg, into a complete
sheathing of ice on all the ropes
and riggen [rigging]: the sunshine
had the effect of partially
melting it and for a time made
it disagreeable being on deck
from the falling of the ice & the
wetness caused by the melting
thereof. During the whole of this
day the wind has been very weak,
and in the afternoon turned
right out of the west against us.
Not with standing that it was
pleasant and rather warm in the
sunshine—in the shade at 12. the
air was 34o and the water at 32o
to which the air fell by 6 P.M.
when the fogg closed in rather
close about us—about this time
we spoke the Wellington Brigg
of Sunderland which passed
upon our Windward and sent to
Captain Craigie for some tobacco.
Their reckonings pretty nearly
agreed with our own, they had
sounded twice this day and found
bottom at 85 and then at 88.
She has been three days longer
at sea than us, having sailed
upon the 2nd Inst. We were all
pleased this day with the sight of
an iceberg, it was descried from
the Mast head in the morning
to which place a number went
to see it, and amongst the rest
John Sharp. It was not long
before it could be seen from the
deck its first appearance was
like that of a broad white sheet
upon the dark water, it gradually
increased in sise as we passed it,
and when we were right opposite
to it—had the appearance of
round bluff hillock, covered with
snow: it may have been about
4 or 5 Miles off, appeared, of a
circular, form & about 2 acres in
sise: pretty uniformly rising up
on all sides, to probably 40 feet
hight— above the water in the
Middle, it appeared on our S.W.
Passed it when S from us, and
disappeared in S.E. it had nothing
of that interesting romantic
and splendid appearance which
I have been lead to suppose
Icebergs generally put on when
they intended appearing before
strangers. There ware none of
those lofty pinnicales, ascending
to the very clouds, divided by
deep chasims through which the
melting ice was poured forth in
rivers and percipitated from the
top into the dark ocean below, in
one unbroken waterfall of not
less than 500 or 1000 feet neither
were there any of those very
Picturesque animals called polar
bares seen upon this very homely
piece of ice. The buletins for this
day is, all well, and in high hopes
of being on good fishing ground
tomorrow. at 8 P.M. the Ship
was put about and is now sail to
the East of North.
Saturday 26th April & 22 of our
Voyage.
Hoar-Frost, like ashes, scattereth
he, like wool he snow doth give:
Like morsals casteth forth his ice;
Who in its cold can live.
We have now got fairly on
the Bank of Newfoundland, the
sounding to day was about 62
Fathoms, and a fine grey sand
came up with the lead; excelent
fishing ground: but the sea has
been rather rough, and the
vessel going at too great a rate
for throwing out fishing lines.
The whole of this day has been
cloudy, the horizion hazy and
looking very like a fall of snow
in the west (i.e. to windward)
the air however has been
dry and the deck much more
pleasant than when wet, The
Thermometer today has indicated
from 34° to something below the
freezing point. There has been
a considerable current of wind
throughout the day, right against
us, and the feeling of cold very
intense. We have throughout the
whole of this day been favoured
by sights of Icebergs of very
considerable magnitude, we have
passed five, the four preceeding
sketches marked No. 1. 2. 3
& 4 are reprisentations of 4 of
them when about right west of
us when we were running nearly
south. the north front of No. 1
I conceive to be about 300 feet
perpendicular —all the flat and
gradually sloping places, are
similar to hilly ground covered
with snow; the perpendicular
places have very much the
appearance of very [busy] close
basaltic rocks: like Salisburgh
or Nivingston Craigs: but more
uniform and far more lofty. N°.
2 was very far off, and must be
of very great sise. N°. 3 was very
much nearer, distinctly seen, but
not very large N°. 4 was about 5
Miles off measured 23’ in height
and in length 2° 24’. I have not
calculated its sise, but think it
must contain at least 500 acres
from it appearance. We have not
had a glint of sun to day on these
wonderful Glasiers, it effect upon
these stupendeous cristals must
be very grand indeed. From the
great height of these hills of ice
above the water they must be
of great depth below, and seem
to have been broken off some
of the immense fields of ice in
the Northern ocean and drifted
south by the wind and the effect
of a current which setts in a S.
E. direction from Davis Straits
&c. and to be grounded on the
shallows of the Banks From the
44
coldness of the day, few of the
passangers have been much on
deck, they have mostly only
come up to take a peep at these
wonders of the deep, and again
gone below to bring their cold
noses to a proper temperature;
our own invalids have rather
been poorly today, likely in
consequence of the rolling of
the vessel which has today been
considerable. From the wind
being ahead of us, we have made
but little progress westward
these two days.
Altho’ I call this a very cold
day, and everybody else does
so; yet I have not found it
unpleasantly so, and upon land
where one had scop [scope] to
walk; or any employment at
all, it would be reckoned an
excellent day tho’ cold and frosty
and looking like a fall of snow.
[I] am of opinion that sea
sickness may be in a great
measure avoided by a proper
attention to keeping the bowels
open and regular — to take as
much excercise and work as
possible and not to eat fine but
rather a large quantity of plain
rather coarse food. I have every
morning either taken Oatmeal
porridge and butter, or fat brose
as breakfast, at dinner I have
uniformly taken broath, or Pea,
or Potatoe soup in large dozes
[doses], and above that stuffed
home some beef and potatoe—
at Tea I have avoided eating
loaf bread as much as possible
having in all only eaten 3 ½
slices of toast. but have prefered
biscuit and butter; but generally,
and what is beyond everything
else, both as regards realish in
eating, and for the stomach’s
sake oatmeal farrels [farls] baked
well in the oven. This is generally
my bill of fare as to eatables,
and as to drink, I have when I
was of opinion that it would be
usefull, taken a little brandy and
water after dinner, sometimes a
little Port W. and water in the
forenoon, and occasionally a little
brandy or rum toddy at 8 P.M.;
but all these in great moderation,
and neither regular, nor all in
the same day. As to meadcine, I
have used a colocignty [?] Pil & a
Dirleagh pil every night with the
exception of two nights and have
found that the effects of these are
of the greatest importance indeed.
I am fully convinced that without
them, I would have been very sick,
and all out of order together—I
think that ham, cheese, eggs, and
all astringent food, or that which
is hard of disgestion [digestion],
ought to be guarded against; for
altho’ these may agree well with
the stomach at the time, all being
to a certain degree stomatics—
yet they are retained in the
bowels for too long a time and
afterwards disturb the operation
of the stomach, and either distry
[destroy] or invert the peristartic
[peristaltic] motion of the bowels:
which is nature turned upside
down, & what I conceive to be
sea sickness seal.
Sabbath 27th All last Night,
and this morning, and indeed
throughout the day, the winds of
yesterday has continued, and
with greater intensity of force
and cold: This morning was
almost a Storm, the wind very
strong and the sea halfmast
high; with just as little sail
set, as to make the vessel lie
and steer right. The gibb, the
three topsails & Trpsail [?] all
close reefed. The sun broke
through in the afternoon and
the wind rather moderated
towards evening: but the whole
of the day was extremely cold,
but dry; and altho’ foggy in
the distant horizon, yet it was
rather a clear day.
We passed some ice last
night, so close as to be obliged
to weave the vessel to prevent
her coming in contact with it:
all last night and this day, the
rolling of the vessel has been
so great, and the creaking,
cracking, groaning & cheeping
of the timbers of the vessel
and the frame work of our
Cabins, that has been so great
that it is impossible for one
person to hear another speak
without literally crying in their
ear: and to sleep is so far out
of the question that it is only
when nature is fairly exasted
[exhausted] and worn out that
glimpses of unquiet rest are
obtained. I can compair the
horrid noise of consequent
on the motion of the vessel to
nothing, but the rooting up of
a foarest by a tempest of wind,
when roots & branches of all
sises are breaking by its great
force: The noise of the tempest
of wind and water without is
not once to be compaired to
it; nothing can be conceived so
uncomfortable as to be obliged
to sleep or only try to sleep in
such a situation.
Very few have been on deck
to day, and only then for a very
short time: The health of our
party has been rather poorly
today, Mr Arnott compleans
much of a great headack, and
no — wonder considering the
tremendious noise which is
existing around him.
R. Johnston has not been up,
and feels weake.
Monday 28th This Morning the
wind has fallen off to nearly a
dead calm, and the wind that is
blowing is quite in our favours.
The sea which was running so
high yesterday, is now
wonderfully smooth; as we are
upon the fishing bank, on
water about 45 or 50 fathoms,
our Captain, Mr Arnott, and
some others threw over their
lines and hook to fish for Cod
they fished and caught
[illegible]. The wind rather
freshened which ended the
fishing, and as new wings were
added to our ship; she went on
her way with considerable
speed: and which increased to
about 7 or 8 knotts but
toward evening rather fell off,
and some of the sails were
taken in, so that she has now
very little way; which is no
doubt the only safe way, in
very thick foggy wether, dark
nights, and particularly when
we run a risk of coming in
contact with ice, several pieces
of which has passed us to day
of different sises, and some of
them not far off. This day has
been fresh rather soft but not
unpleasant. Mr A. up, R. J.
not so. Mrs A. complaining
of sore throat. If this does
not close up the paper so
as to join with the 29th
something may be introduced
regarding the magnitude and
appearance of the waves &
hollows in the sea.
Pr
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Self-portrait, with his youngest
child, Christine, c1850
45
William “Tiger” Dunlop, who
came to Upper Canada in 1826
to oversee the settlement of the
Huron Tract, was a prolific writer,
and who crossed the seas from
England to Upper Canada several
times, thought little of journals
that recorded the sea crossing.
This is how he expressed it:
“Next to the tedium of a
sea voyage, nothing on earth can
be so tiresome as a description
of it; the very incidents which
a Journal of such a pilgrimage
commemorates shew the dreadful
state of vacuum and ennui
which must have existed in the
mind of the patient before such
trifles could become of interest
sufficient to be thought worthy
of notation. A sail in sight,—a
bunch of seaweed floating past
the ship,—a log of wood covered
with barnacles,—or, better
still,—one of the numerous tribe
of Medusa, with its snake-like
feelers and changeable colours—a
gull, or a flock of Mother Carey’s
chickens, paddling in the wake,—
are occurrences of sufficient
importance to call upon deck
all the passengers, even during
dinner. Or if they are happy
enough to fall in with a shoal of
porpoises or dolphins, a flock of
flying fish, or a whale blowing
and spouting near the ship, such
a wonder is quite sufficient to
furnish conversation for the
happy beholders for the rest of the
voyage. For my own part, being
familiar with, and also seasoned
to, all the wonders of the deep, I
make a vow whenever I go on
board, that nothing inferior in
rank and dignity to a sea serpent
shall ever induce me to mount the
companion ladder. On the whole,
though it cannot be considered
as a very choice bit of reading, I
look upon the log-book as by far
the best account of a voyage, for it
accurately states all that is worthy
of note in the fewest possible
words.”1 Our diarists, however,
Charles Fothergill and Ebenezer
Birrell, are proof positive that the
trans-Atlantic adventure could,
indeed, be worthy of chronicling.
The one related all the sights to
behold looking out from the deck;
the other was more concerned
with the goings on below deck.
I look upon the log-book as by far
the best account of a voyage, for it
accurately states all that is worthy
of note in the fewest possible
words. (William Tiger Dunlop).
Charles Fothergill lamented
in 1834 from his Pickering 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.” In that very year, Ebenezer
Birrell, an amateur landscape
painter from Scotland immigrated
to Upper Canada and settled on
the 7th Concession of Pickering
Township, just a few miles north
of his fellow artist.
Both Fothergill and Birrell had
left the old country to explore
better prospects in the New World.
While their families were generally
prosperous with long-held trades,
as younger sons they would not
inherit their fathers’ businesses.
Fothergill’s father was an ivory
brush and comb manufacturer;
Birrell’s father was engaged in
the manufacture of parchment
and vellum. Fothergill’s great
desire was to pursue a career in
natural history. Apart from the
publication of a couple of books
on the subject, however, he had
not fared well. Birrell, on the
other hand, was quite adept in the
family business, and in addition
had succeeded well as a surveyor.2
Both Fothergill and Birrell had left
the old country to explore better
prospects in the New World.
Fothergill was married before he
set sail for Canada and had two
young children. He left the family
to follow at a later date after he
had established himself in his
adopted country. Birrell was still
unmarried and would get settled
in the New World before he took
on a wife and began a family.
Both Fothergill and Birrell
were multitalented. Apart from
sharing an interest in the fine
arts, both gentlemen held many
positions in the course of their
lives in Canada. Apart from
being a naturalist and an artist,
Fothergill was, at one time or
another, King’s printer, publisher,
legislator, magistrate, storeowner,
postmaster, mill owner, brewer,
horse breeder, and developer.
Birrell recorded himself as a
farmer in the 1851 census. But
he was also a Pathmaster, a
Commissioner of the Court
of Requests, town warden, an
Elder and Sessions Clerk in the
Presbyterian Church, Local
Superintendent of schools,
Lieutenant Colonel in the Ontario
Militia, founding president of
the Ontario County Agricultural
Society, Justice of the Peace, a
Director of the Greenwood
Mechanics’ Institute, and an art
judge for the Upper Canada Art
Council.
In the end, what separates
them more than anything else, is
how well they succeeded with
their aspirations. Known right
across Upper Canada and beyond,
with ideas that transcended
his time, Fothergill failed to
accomplish most of his goals. Ill-
health hounded him, his rashness
often led to dismissal from his
employment, he lacked the
support of the country’s leaders
in his most far-reaching and
ambitious schemes, and in the
end, he died penniless. Birrell, on
the other hand, did not appear
to have any long-term goals, and
worked in a more circumscribed
milieu, becoming one of the chief
architects of Pickering’s social and
cultural history in the nineteenth
century, and was widely honoured
at his death.
In the end, what separates them
more than anything else, is how
well they succeeded with their
aspirations.
NOTES:
1 William “Tiger” Dunlop:
“Blackwoodian Backwoodsman”.
Ed. Carl F. Klink (Toronto: The
Ryerson Press, 1958), pp. 3-4.
2 The Pickering Museum
Village has the surveyor’s chain
that Birrell used before he came
to Canada.
Two Early Nineteenth Century VoyageS
from the Old World to the New: COMMENTARY
C C
by John W. Sabean
46
Charles Neville was born on the
summer solstice, 21 June 1920,
and passed away on the winter
solstice, 21 December 2020,
having reached his goal of 100
years of age.
Charles came to Canada in
1949 with his wife Georgina
and daughter Gail and lived in
Toronto for a number of years
where he began his career as
a Professional Engineer and
was involved with many large
projects such as the Toronto
subway, the TD Center, and the
Ontario Science Center. Before
coming to Canada, he had
taken an engineering degree
at Loughborough College in
England. His engineering skills,
however, were first put to the
test in Burma during the Second
World War where he served
with the Royal Engineers of
England building roads and
bridges in the jungle.
About 1968 the family moved
to Whitevale and took up
residence in the old school house
(School Section #8), which he
set about to restore and remodel
into a home. It was, however,
not only the schoolhouse he
restored, but a number of
antique Wolseley automobiles
as well. His experiences with the
Wolseleys led him to produce a
book: Wolseley Cars in Canada
1900-1920 (1995). A brochure
prepared for the sale of the
book reads: “When the author
discovered and acquired seven
rare, pre-World War I Wolseley
motor cars in a remote part of
Ontario, he did not know that
his find would lead to over 30
years of research and restoration
[my emphasis].” Charles’ college
degree had given him a good
practical machine shop training,
which he now put to good use
in taking derelict cars, some not
much more than mere frames,
and completely refinishing them
to an as-new status.
In conjunction with his
war-time experience, and his
involvement with the Wolseleys,
Charles was a long-time
member of the Imperial Officers
Association and the Antique
Classic Car Club of Canada. He
lived out his last few years at
the Sunnybrook Veterans Health
Centre in Toronto.
The Pickering Township
Historical Society is indebted to
Charles for his donations of an
oil painting by Dorothy Glen
and 33 volumes of the Daily
Register for School Section #8
(Whitevale), 1913-1964.
In Memoriam:Charles Gower Neville
(1920–2020)
PT
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Charles driving a restored
1909 Wolseley
Cover of Charles’ book.
Charles Neville remodelling School Section $8 into a home, c1970.
School Section #8
before restoration.
School Section #8
after restoration.
47
CBC recently ran a documentary
film, “Clydesdale: Saving the
Greatest Horse”. Featured in the
film, if only for a few minutes,
was a segment on the Miller
family of Thistle Ha’ and other
farms in Pickering and Markham
Townships. PTHS member Jim
Miller, who was interviewed for
the documentary tells how the
event came about:
“During the summer of 2018,
I was asked to participate in a
BBC Scotland/CBC documentary
about the Clydesdale horse. The
Canadian producers wanted
someone to talk about the early
history of purebred Clydesdales
and their breeders in Canada. I
said that there were at least a
dozen prominent Clydesdale
importers and breeders in this
area, including the Graham
Bros of Claremont, Davidsons,
Drydens, numerous Millers, and
so on. But no, they wanted a
direct descendant to discuss the
family’s Clydesdale business,
showing historical artifacts.
Apparently, their researchers
couldn’t find anyone else, so
I was it. The Miller purebred
Clydesdale business appears to
have existed from the 1850s until
WWI, after which the demand for
draft horses steadily declined due
to the increasing popularity of
farm tractors.
“As we discover in the
documentary, it took Scottish
breeders a century to breed
the ‘perfect’ draft horse—the
Clydesdale. My father claimed
that Clydesdales were widely
popular and commanded huge
prices during the settlement
of the Canadian Prairies and
American High Plains because the
Clyde horse had two important
traits: physically, the horse was
almost bullet-proof, it rarely got
lame, so was fit for work nearly
every day; and it was a faster
walker than other draft breeds.
So, when ploughing or harvesting
fields that stretched from horizon
to horizon, Clydesdale teams
covered more acres per day than
any other breed of horse.
“The documentary crew
was here on the Friday before
Thanksgiving 2018. After being
‘wired’ up, I was given less than
a minute of instruction by the
Scottish director. He told me
that they would start the camera
when approaching the house. I’d
greet them at the door, and then
proceed to show and tell the story
about Millers and Clydesdales.
He emphasized that there would
be no interruptions once they
started shooting because he
wanted ‘natural and authentic’.
“So I was dumbfounded to
find that a Scotswoman (I had no
idea who she was or that she was
even here) led the crowd through
the front door and proceeded
to converse with me until the
director finally spoke for the first
time to stop. The camera had
been running continuously for
three hours in one ‘take’. The
editors earn their pay.
“Only then did this woman
introduce herself. She said she
was born and raised on a farm
in Dumfriesshire (she has been
in the area where the Millers
came from many times), and
now owned a few Clydesdales
on a small farm in Ayrshire. She
had good knowledge about
the history of the Clydes and
pedigree. When she saw Lord
Harry’s picture, she behaved as
if she’d found the pot of gold
at the end of a rainbow. The
documentary indicates why. Lord
Harry was one of Scotland’s first
highly-prized and celebrated
Clydesdale stallions of the 19th
century, from the stables of
one of Scotland’s most famous
Clydesdale breeders, Lawrence
Drew. She knew that Lord Harry
had been exported to Canada,
but not where. To discover that
he had been imported by the
Millers (my great-uncle William
M. Miller of Echowind Farm,
south-west of Claremont)—well!
“Only afterwards did I find
out that this Scotswoman is the
documentary’s ‘presenter’—as
they say in the U.K. She signed
our guest book as Janice
Jim
M
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The Clydesdale Horse in Pickering&
&
by John W. Sabean, with suggestions from Jim Miller
4848
Kirkpatrick, Lindsayston Farm,
Scotland. She never mentioned
that she finished top in her class
at the Glasgow School of Art, co-
founded and manages Graven, an
internationally acclaimed studio
of about 30 designers, for which
she was awarded an OBE. I guess
the director never mentioned who
would be interviewing me ahead
of time so I wouldn’t be nervous.”
The Clydesdale story in
Pickering is part of a larger story
concerning the importation and
breeding of pure-bred livestock.
For about a fifty-year period,
between 1870 and 1920,
Pickering Township was a world
leader in the importation and
breeding, not only of Clydesdale
horses, but also of Shorthorn
cattle, Leicester, Shropshire, and
Cotswold sheep, and Berkshire
pigs. And most of the leading
farms that were involved in this
trade existed along a corridor
that stretched from Markham
in the west to Brooklin in the
east—within a five-kilometre
radius on either side of the
Eighth Concession.1
Several members of the
Miller family were involved,
including George (of Riggfoot
Farm, Markham, 1797-1880), his
brother William (of Atha Farm,
1792-1879), and William’s sons
William (of Atha, Virginia and
Lakeside farm in Storm Lake,
IA, 1833 – 1905), John Miller
(of Thistle Ha’, 1817-1904)
and Robert (of Grange Farm,
1832-1911). In addition, James
Ironside Davidson (of Sittyton
Grove Farm, Balsam, 1818-1902),
Arthur Johnston (of Greenwood,
1839- 1915)2, David Birrell (of
Greenwood, 1842-1927), and
John Dryden (of Maple Shade
Farm in Brooklin, 1840 - 1909)
all dealt with a number of pure-
bred farm animals. And, the
Graham Bros, of Claremont
(William, Thomas, and Robert)
were especially known for their
Clydesdale and Hackney horses.3
Parts of this story have been
told, but the whole story runs
much deeper than has yet been
related. We hope to be able to
reveal the full extent of Pickering
and areas’ commitment in the
coming years. In the meanwhile,
view the video, “Clydesdale:
Saving the Greatest Horse”,
read Margaret Derry’s Ontario’s
Cattle Kingdom: Purebred
Breeders and Their World, 1870-
1920, and check out Jim Miller’s
website, thistleha.com.4
NOTES:
1 In Markham, the Concession roads run
north-south, rather than east west as in
Pickering and Whitby, but by extending
a line west from Pickering along the line
of the 8th Concession the corridor is
made clear.
2 “Arthur Johnston was a breeder
of Shorthorn cattle in Claremont
[Greenwood], Ontario. He was born in
County Tyrone, Ireland, and moved to
Caledon Township in 1846. He taught
school at Mt. Zion School, Pickering
Township, Ontario County, from 1860
to 1861, but shortly thereafter moved
to Claremont. Johnston also served as
a license commissioner for Pickering
Township, an unpaid position on the
Board of License Commissioners which
controlled the issuing of tavern licenses
and other licenses for the sale of alcohol.”
Archives of Ontario, fonds 1234.
3 An indication of this area’s leadership
role in just the Clydesdale breed alone
is found in The Clydesdale Stud Book
of Canada, and American Clydesdale
Stud Book. The 1889 Clydesdale
Horse Association of Canada listed
several officers from this area: https://
books.google.ca/books?id=xqhOA
AAAYAAJ&pg=PA223&source=g
bs_toc_r&cad=4#v=onepage&q&f=false
, p. 176. Likewise in leadership and
membership in the far more prestigious
American Clydesdale Association, e.g.:
https://books.google.ca/books?id=2ON
IAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&so
urce=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=o
nepage&q&f=false , pp. 4217 – 4225.
Canadian membership is dominated by
local names and places.
4 Dr Derry wrote to Jim’s father Hugh
Miller in the last few weeks of his
life, requesting an interview about the
purebred cattle breeding industry. Jim
says: “By the time we became aware of
this unanswered correspondence, she
had published her book; so, as you say,
this area’s story was and remains largely
untold. It is my understanding that the
Canadian researchers of ‘Clydesdale:
Saving the Greatest Horse’ contacted
Dr Derry about who to talk to about
the pioneer Clydesdale importers and
breeders in Ontario. She suggested they
contact Thistle Ha’.”
Neither ‘Boydston Boy’
nor ‘Lord Harry’—the
splendid heavy draught
imported stallions, owned
by Mr. Wm. M. Miller, of
Echo Bank, were shown
at any of the spring fairs.
This was somewhat of a
disappointment—made up
for, however, at Claremont
and Brougham where the
animals were walked around
after the contest for the
prizes. ‘Boydston’s Boy’s’
pedigree is given in No. III
Scotch Stud Book. He is a
noble animal, fine bay colour,
with heavy main hanging
almost to the knees, fine
clean limbed, grand action
and with great power and
muscle. He is also lively
and good tempered, and
a sure foal-getter. He is
the sire of the first-prize
horse at Glasgow, Scotland,
this spring, as heretofore
noticed in these columns.
‘Lord Harry’ is a
beautiful black, 8 years
old this spring, and was
imported last September. He
is a noted prize-taker, and
gained the silver medal at
Toronto for the best horse
of any age or breed. He
also won firsts at both
the Royal and Highland
Societies’ shows. He weighs
2175 lbs. He was sired by
the noted Prince of Wales
out of dam Mary—a mare
that won more prizes in
England and Scotland than
any mare ever exhibited.
Both these horses are
invaluable animals, not
only to their enterprising
owner, but to the stock
of the country. They are
kept strictly for breeding
purposes, and the books
of both have been filled for
some time, so eager have
owners of mares been to
bespeak them. Being asked
why they were not exhibited,
as they would be sure to
carry off the first prizes.
‘O, no’ replied the groom
in charge—‘we’re a cut
above that; our horses are
kept for stock purposes,
not for show.’
Fair Notes From the Pickering News, 5 May 1882, p. 2.
This beautiful Clydesdale was foaled June 3rd, 1882. He is
still owned by his breeder, Mr. James I. Davidson, of Balsam,
Ont. The triumphs of his ancestry in several of the leading
show rings of the old world and the
new is almost without parallel, and
it is expected of Darling’s Prince
that he will do no discredit to his
lineage in the same direction. His sire,
Prince Imperial (1258), gained the
first prize at the Royal Agricultural
Society’s show at Kilburn, in 1869,
his grandsire, Dandy Jim (221), won
the east Berwickshire premium and
his great grandsire, Mr. [Lawrence]
Drew’s famous Prince of Wales (673),
carried the first at the Highland
Society’s show at Aberdeen, in 1869,
second at Dumfries, 1870, first at
Kelso, 1872, and first at the Royal
Society’s show at Manchester. The
dam of Darling’s Prince, Darling 2nd
(52), sire Netherby (1494), won over
forty prizes and sweepstakes, and was never awarded but one
second in her show-yard career. She carried the first as best
mare and two of her progeny at the Industrial, Toronto, 1880.
The Woodruff, Bentley & Co.
The Woodruff, Bentley & Co. was
a Medicine Factory operating
out of Brougham from at least
the mid-1840s to about 1870,
with the manufacture of pills,
powders and salves, among
other things. The company was
started by Nelson Woodruff and
William and James Bentley and
“employed five or six girls and a
manager. In addition, a travelling
salesman was employed to deliver
the remedies with a horse and
a light wagon. The wagon had
a box built on the back to carry
the boxes of pills and bottles.
Sometimes Mr. Woodruff and the
Bentley brothers did the delivering.
“Woodruff, Bentley and
Co. were noted far and wide for
several different remedies. Horse
Condition Powder, the Canadian
Vegetable Anti-Bilious or Poor
Man’s Pill, Burdock Blood Bitters
and Egyptian Salve were four
of the medicines made in their
Brougham factory.” The factory
was located across the street from
what is now the Bentley-Gibson
House, just south of the church
on the corner of Brock Road
and Highway 7. “It was James
Bentley who actually made the
pills, powders and salves for the
company…. The factory also made
cigars in the 60’s. Seven people
were employed to manufacture
medicines and cigars.”
A “ledger written in 1845-
1855 shows the distance that the
pills, salves and medicines were
distributed. Besides delivery to
all the small and large villages
49
PT
H
S
Darling’s Prince from the Canadian Live Stock Journal (June 1885)
Recent Acquisitions
The PTHS has recently acquired a couple of items related to Pickering industries.
The first is a printed circular issued by the Woodruff, Bentley & Co. from the 1860s. It has two cancellations: WHITBY, C.W. FE 27 ’67
and MOUNT PLEASANT, U.C. FE 28, 1867—C.W. indicating Canada West, and U.C. indicating Upper Canada. The year was that of
Confederation, so both cancellations were being used. For the history of the company, we summarize from Robert A. Miller,
The Ontario Village of Brougham: Past! Present! Future? (1973), pp. 14-19, 27.
From the Canadian Live-Stock Journal, II, 6 (June 1885), 148-149.
Darling’s prince
50
and towns around Brougham, the
remedies were taken to places along
the lake and north to Lindsay and
Peterborough and as far east as
Bytown (Ottawa), Montreal and
Quebec City….
“The business of Woodruff and
Bentley thrived in Brougham for
about twenty years. It was sold
to a larger Toronto firm, Milburn
(Bentley and Pearson) Co. The
factory building was acquired
sometime in the early seventies
by a farmers’ organization known
as ‘The Grange’.”
“Woodruff Bentley & Co.,
Patent Medicines” was listed in
the Bradstreet’s Reports at least
until 1870.
There is more about the
company in the full account in Miller.
Nelson Woodruff (1814-
1874), born in Pickering, was the
son of Noadiah Woodruff and
Charity Powell, two of the earliest
residents of Pickering Township.
The Tremaine Map of 1860 calls
Nelson a “Vendor of medicines”.
The Census of 1871, lists his
profession as “Manufacturer
of Patent Medicines”, and
assigns to him a Patent Medicine
Manufactory (Woodruff, Bentley
& Co.) on Lot 19, Concession 5,
with 4 employees, an Investment
of $1000, and a value of $8000.
William Bentley came to
Pickering from New York State
in 1829. He opened the first
store in what became Brougham
in 1835, and the hamlet became
known first as Bentley’s Corners.
He married Elizabeth Woodruff
(1816-1858), sister of Nelson
Woodruff. William died in 1860.
James L. Bentley followed his
brother to Pickering in 1835.
The Tremaine Map of 1860
calls him a “Vendor of
medicines”. He died in 1866.
The second acquisition is a
couple of labels from canning
companies in Claremont. Lillian
M. Gauslin, in her history of
Claremont, From Paths to Planes:
A Story of the Claremont Area
(1974), p. 120, has preserved
some of the history of the Symes
Canning Company: “In 1931,
Walter Symes, Frank Loyst and
Thomas Condy opened a canning
factory, north of the C.P.R.
Station. At that time, tomatoes
were selling at twenty-five cents
per bushel. Farmers such as
Norman Linton, grew acres of
tomatoes and took them by the
wagonload to the factory. At
Jo
h
n
W
.
S
a
b
e
a
n
.
Woodruff circular, 1867
51
its peak there were forty-five
workers employed (all but
two living in Claremont), who
peeled and canned cases of this
product. Later it was solely
operated by Mr. Symes; while
he was the operator, some
65,000 cases of tomatoes were
handled. Employees included:
Jean Symes, Grace Loyst, Carl
Dopking, Lillian Dawson, Joe
Ward and Margaret Wilson.
“The plant was closed for a
considerable length of time and
used for storage purposes. Then,
in 1952, under the management
of Thomas McKenzie and
owner ‘Mike’ Williamson, it
opened again but only lasted a
very short time.
“Meanwhile, Mr. Frank Loyst
operated a canning factory of
his own. It was situated south
of the C.P.R. Station and there,
they canned chicken as well as
tomatoes. It was later changed to
a Locker System, where farmers
of the area stored their meat.”
At this point we don’t know
whether the “Claremont Canning
Company” refers to the 1952
operation or to the Loyst factory.
Walter Symes later had a
larger business dealing with
a number of products, as
indicated by his letterhead.
Walter Symes letterhead, 1930s
PT
H
S
Claremont Canning Company label
PT
H
S
PT
H
S
Symes Canning Company label
The year 2022 marks the
25th anniversary of the
PTHS. By this time next
year we hope the Covid-19
pandemic will be behind
us and we can get back to
our regular business. Plans
are already underway to
celebrate our anniversary
in April of next year. If
you have any suggestions
as to how we should
go about marking this
milestone we would like
to hear from you.
52
The directors of the
Pickering Township Historical Society
thank the Binns family
for a generous donation that will support
the society’s publications.
The directors of the
Pickering Township Historical Society
thank Elexicon Energy and
City of Pickering for their generous support.
Board of Directors:
Honourary Presidents: Lilian M. Gauslin
Tom Mohr
Past President John Sabean
President: Vacant
Vice President: Alarna McKie
Recording & Corresponding Secretary: Carol Sabean
Membership Secretary: John Earley
Treasurer: Vacant
Editor: John Sabean
Design: John Cormier
Hands On Art & Design
Pathmaster is the newsletter of
the Pickering Township Historical
Society and is issued occasionally. Address
correspondence to PTHS, c/o 928 Reytan
Blvd., Pickering, Ontario, L1W 1Y7.
E-mail: johnsabean88@gmail.com.
For general enquiries address
correspondence to PTHS, P.O. Box 66053,
Town Centre, Pickering, ON, LIV 6P7.
Website: pickeringhistorical.ca.
Because the PTHS deals with
peoples, events, and issues from
the past it often encounters
names, words, and situations
that are sensitive, indeed, even
offensive and intolerant. We
cannot change history, but we
can be aware that we must do
better than those of previous
generations to create space for
all people, and to be open and
accepting of everyone no matter
their condition or place in society.
As it happens, to date, the
interests of the writers for
Pathmaster have been archaeology
and prehistory, and the nineteenth
century. Occasionally we have had
submissions for topics of other
periods, and we welcome these. In
fact, we would like to have more
submissions from a greater variety
of writers and historians, so that
we can truly tell the stories of all of
Pickering’s people.
Generally speaking, Pickering
has had a memorable history,
with people from all walks of life
making their contributions to what
makes us what we are. And, we
have also produced a number of
society leaders, and people who
have made a name for themselves
in a wider world. We have tried
to tell as many of these stories
as possible, but we have barely
scratched the surface.
In telling the stories of the
past, we cannot completely avoid
the terminology or descriptions
of the past. When we encounter
situations that might be sensitive
or offensive we will use acceptable
language when we can, but where
we cannot without compromising
our stories and our characters, we
will use direct quotations to show
that we are not sanctioning usage
of the past. And we will attempt
to warn people in advance that not
everything in a given article will
stand the test of time.
When referring to people of
different backgrounds, it is often
difficult trying to find the right
terminology. As Marie-Céline
Charron, a member of the Naskapi
Nation of Kawawachikmach,
says: “Perhaps the biggest problem
with all of this is that we fight
over it and people’s feelings get
hurt. I have always maintained
that we should call people what
they want to be called, and if I
make a mistake when I refer to
someone’s name, I ask that they
please ‘guide me gently to a higher
understanding’ like the elders do. I
never meant to offend anyone and
I hope we can teach each other
about these things in a good way.”
Please, readers, if you have
a story to tell about Pickering
that would be of interest to all its
citizens, write it up for us so that
we can include it in our newsletter.
All we ask is that you use a proper
form of discourse, and that you
document as well as possible
whatever claims you make.
To the Reader