History of the County of Middlesex, Canada

Middlesex County may be said to be the central tract of the Erie and Huron Peninsula of Ontario, in latitude 42 58' 20", and longitude 81 14' 8". In 1827, and even later, the County extended from Lake Erie to Lake Huron, and from the line of Zone Township to the line of Burford, a tract now embracing the counties of Middlesex, Elgin, Oxford, Huron, Perth, and Bruce. In 1887 the total number of acres assessed was 758,571, exclusive of the acreage within the boundaries of incorporated towns. Including the town property, the total assessed value of real estate amounted to $24,853,322; and the equalized value of all property real and personal was placed at $34,223,607, being about two-thirds of the true value of the County, exclusive of London City.

Who were those white travellers who first entered the forests to carve out a home? They were Americans, driven from their country by the sentimental grievance which the new Republic created. In the deep Canadian woods they had time for reflection, and, within a decade after settlement, their studies took shape, and again they are found among the soldiers of the Union they once deserted.

Delaware is credited with the first settlements made, in what now constitutes Middlesex County. Ethan Allan (son of Ebenezer), and Jasper Crow (his brother-in-law), two Americans, who fled from their country rather than serve it, located their gardens along the Thames, and for some years resided there. During those years the glory of the young Republic floated as a vision before them, so that when the Union required new troops for a new war, Allan and Crow were among the very first to answer the call. In 1812, Allan bid farewell to his Canadian home forever, and was followed by Crow, who left his wife and family the farm which he had improved.

Table of Contents:

Topography And Natural History

Soil
River Thames, The
Other Streams
Geology
Building Stone
Sand and Gravel
Oil Wells
Salt Wells
Fire Clay
Trees and Shrubs

Indian Residents

Indians, The Earliest
Tribal History
Indians of 1812
Border Incidents
Missions and Churches
Marriages Among Indians
Indian Orange Lodges
Race Statistics
Trails

Occupation And Settlement

First Settlers
Crown Land Entries
Other Settlers
Pioneer Mails
London Vicinity in 1818
Wolf Story, A
Colored Inhabitants
"Old John Brown"
Marriage Laws
Pioneer Cabins

Establishment Of Churches

Catholics, The
Enerlish Church, The
Presbyterians, The
Presbyterian Marriages
Baptist Church, The
Ministers and Marriages . .
Congregationalists, The
Marriages, etc
Methodist Church, The
Their Marriages
Bible Christians
Lutherans
Moravians
Other Religious Societies

Organization Of London District

Counties, The First
Quarter Sessions Court, The
County Council, The
Early Items
County Buildings
House of Refuge
Insane Asylum
Scott Act, The

Politics From 1788 To 1888

Districts Formed
Legislative Council, The
Assembly, The
Lieutenant Governors
Crown Land Grants or Concessions
Political Aspect, Rebellion of 1837
Execution of Rebels
Contemporary Memoranda
Leaders in 1837
Political Status
Elections, etc

Bench And Bar, The

Earliest Practitioners
Oldest Court Records
Execution of Burleigh
Execution of Sovereen
Execution of Jones
Execution of Pickard
Execution of Simmons
Miscellaneous Cases
Other Trials
Judges and Counsel
Present Bar
Early Probate Business

Military Affairs

Simcoe's Designs
Surrender of Detroit
Battle of the Thames
Battle of Lake Erie
Skirmish at Byron
Affair at Battle Hill
Other Military Movements
Pensioners of the War
Rebellion of 1837-8, The
Preparations to Invade the States
Military Organizations
Affairs in 1865
Fenian Invasion, The
Red River Troubles, 1869-70
Militia, The
North-west Troubles, 1885
Military School, The

The Newspapers

Quebec Papers
Upper Canadian Papers
London District Papers
Modern Papers
Present Papers
Other Periodicals
Printers' Union, The
Country Publications

Growth Of Schools

English School, The First
Amendment of School Acts
Common School System
Legal Teachers, 1842
Statistics
Superintendents
Expenditures
Institutes, Origin of

Roads And Bridges

Corduroy Roads
Roads Projected
Funds for Road Building
Toll Roads
Expenditure on County Roads
Early Bridges
Railroads
Railroad Accidents

Societies, Population, Etc.

Fairs. The First
Fair of 1851, The
Fair Officers, etc
Provincial Exhibition, The
Old Grounds, The
Receipts
Western Fair Association
New Grounds, The
Farmers Institute
Stock Breeders Association
Fish and Game Society
Population
County Finances
Statistics

London

The Forks
Earliest Inhabitants
Business, The First
During the "Forties"
Business Houses and Men
Real Estate, 1852-7
Post-office
Custom House, The
Notable Buildings
Village of London Council
Town of London Council
Parks
Exhibition Grounds, The
Bridges
Sidewalks and Laws
Cemeteries, Streets, etc
Incorporation
City Officers and Laws
City Finances
Port Stanley Railroad
Important Transactions
Fire Department
Council and Fire Department
Conflagrations
Police Department
Water Supply
Analysis of Water
Victoria Disaster, The
Flood of 1883
Street Lighting
Market, The Public
Hospitals
Guthrie Home
Schools of London
Collegiate Institutes
Hellmuth College
Medical College, The
Law School, The
Art School
Separate Schools
English Church. The
Methodist Church, The
Methodist New Connexion Church5
Bible Christians
Methodist Episcopal Church
Catholic Church, The
Presbyterian Church, The
Congregational Church
Baptist Church
Other Religious Bodies
Mechanics Institute
Secret and Other Societies and Clubs
Musical Organizations
Board of Trade
Chamber of Commerce
Travellers Association
Manufacturing Enterprises
Wholesale Houses
Taverns and Groceries
Banks and Bankers
Loan Companies
Insurance Companies
Miscellany
London East
Statistics

Strathroy

Residents, The First
Business, The First
Merchants and Customers
Charter and Officers
Schools
Fire Department
Fires
Accidents
Churches
Cemeteries
Societies, etc
Banks
Railroads
Manufacturing Enterprises

Adelaide Township

Boundary
Population
Settlers, The First
Prominent Citizens
Official History
Fires and Accidents
Adelaide Village
Schools and Churches
Kerwood
Keyser

Biddulph Township

Boundary and Population
Pioneers, The
Colored Colony, The
Official Record
Granton
Clandeboye
Ireland
Mooresvillo
Adare
Churches

Lucan Town

Old Name
Appearance, The First
Residents, The First
Lots,Sale of
Officers, etc
Finances
Schools
Fires
Accidents
Commerce
Post-office and Banks
Societies, Clubs, etc

Caradoc Township

Boundary, etc
Old Records
Land Patents, The First
Settlers, The First
Schools
Accidents
Mt. Brydges
Churches

Delaware Township

Situation, etc
Longwoods Road
Land Grants
Settlers
Aliens, The
Officers, etc
Incidents

Delaware Village, Etc

Early Appearance
Fires
Population
Kilworth
Woodhull Settlement, The
Village in 1851, The
Later Events
Churches
Lodges

Dorchester Township

Location, etc
Official Record
Settlers, The First
Residents, Later
Putnamville
Harrietsville
Belmont
Dorchester Station
Nilestown
Avon
Crumlin
Gladstone
Mossley

Ekfrid Township

Survey of Crown Lands
Boundary, etc
Pioneers, The
Records, The Oldest
Officers
Agricultural Society
Accidents
Ekfrid Village
Appin
Melbourne
Middlemiss
Strathburn
Mayfair
Muncey
Christina
Knox Church

Lobo Township

Location
Population
Official History
Pioneers, The
Crown Land Entries
Komoka
Churches
Lobo Village
Poplar Hill
Coldstream
Fernhill
Duncrief
Ivan
Amiens
Siddallsville

London Township

Situation, Streams, etc
Records, The Early
Pioneers
Citizens, Prominent, Early
Events of Note
Churches
Arva, or St. Johns
Hyde Park Corner
London West
Birr
Elginfleld
Denfield
Ilderton
Vanneck
Bryanston
Kingston

McGillivray Township

Situation, Streams, etc
Official Matters
Settlers, etc
West McGillivray
Lieury
Corbett
Moray
Brinsley
McGillivray
Churches, etc
Agricultural Society

Metcalfe Township

Location, Water Courses, etc
Crown Land Entries
Incidents
Settlers, The
Napier
Churches
Societies
Katesville
Wisbeach
Kilmartin

Mosa Township

Situation, Creeks, etc
Settlers, The First
Officers, etc
Agricultural Society
Churches
Fires
Longwood
Knapdale
Cashmere

Newbury Village

Name, The First
Merchants, The First
Population
Incorporation, etc
Schools
Fires
Societies
Churches
Miscellany

Wardsville

Early Appearance
Merchants, The First
Business Men, Later
Population, etc
Official Matters
Fires
Societies
Churches
Schools

Glencoe

Origin
Organization
Commerce
Buildings
Exports and Imports
Banks
Schools
Churches
Fire Department
Band
Rifle Association
Accidents
Societies, Clubs, etc
Cemetery
Salt Well
Mechanics' Institute

Nissouri West Township

Streams, Boundary, etc
Survey, Land Entries, etc
Settlers, The
Records, The
Thorndale
Wyton Village
Stives
Belton
Devizes
Rebecca

Westminster Township

Drainage. Location, etc
Statistics
Survey, Land Sales, etc
Pioneers, The
Organization, Officers, etc
Pioneer Incidents
Crown Lands Entered
Old Settlers Living
Westminster Insurance Company
Churches
Byron
Lambeth
Hall Mills
Pond Mills
Glanworth
Derwent
Maple Grove
Glendale
Maguire
Accidents

London South

Leading Residents, Some
Churches
Statistics
Schools

East Williams Township

Streams, etc
Canada Company, The
Living Old Settlers
Organization, Officers, etc
Churches
Springbank and Vicinity
Falkirk
Nairn

Ailsa Craig Village

Settler, The First
Village in 1868, The
Business, The Early
Business, Later
Population
Incorporation
Lodges
Accidents

West Williams Township

Water Courses, etc
Organization, etc
Settlement
Sylvan
Bornish
Agricultural Society

Parkhill

Origin, The
Settlers, The First
Business
Manufactories
Banks
Organization
Schools
Fires
Accidents
Churches
Societies, etc

General Items

Herbs and Weeds
Zoology
Storms
Rain and Snow
Duration of Sunshine
Indian Summer
Archceology
Miscellany
Statistics, Early
Indebtedness, etc
Statistics, Late
Population

General Miscellany

Public Schools
London South Schools
Art School
Agricultural Association
Ailsa Craig Mechanics Institute
Spring Show
Scott Act Repealed
Sale of Fair Ground Lots
Assessment Roll, 1889
Liquor Licenses, 1889
Western Congregational Association
Railway Subsidies
Asylum Improvements
Masonic Officers
Amalgamation of London South
Law Candidates
Canal Comparisons
Imports
Board of Trade
Women's Christian Association
Knights of the Maccabees, etc
Piccadilly Lodge, Sons of England
Court Defiance
London Lodge of Perfection
Local Poetry
Liberal Conservatives
London West Schools
Typographical Union
Glencoe Mechanics' Institute
Strathroy Board of Trade
Bank Statement
Repeal of the Scott Act
Good Templars

Sundry Historical Notes

Early Items
Small Towns
County Postmasters
Westminster Township Presbyterian Church
Strathroy Spring Fair, 1889
Glencoe Statistics, 1889
Glencoe Presbyterian Church
Caradoc Spring Show
Protestant Home Board
St. George's Church
Mechanics' Institute, London
Hospital Trust, The
Mevill Masonic Report
Glencoe Spring Fair
Independent Order
Criminal Statistics
Court Robin Hood
Railway Land Subsidies
Church Appointments
Glencoe Lacrosse Club
Entomology
Old Folks Concert
London Cricket Club
Insurance Abstract
Lawyers Banquet
Scott Act at Strathroy
Foresters
Mortuary Statistics
Methodists, The
Dairying Interests
Oddfellows' Annual Statement
Public Revenue
Strathroy Mechanics' Institute
A, O. U. W
Base Ball Association
Papal Aggression
Presbytery of London
Canadian Pacific Railway
District Methodist Meeting
Loyal Orange Association
Sundry Notes
Physicians
Strathroy Methodists
West Middlesex Reform Association
Victoria Circle
Australian Population
Collegiate Institute Examinations, 1889
Scraps of Early History 688
Early Fair Premiums
Canadian Order of Foresters

Exploration Of Canada

Norse Discoverers, The
English Discoverers, The
French Settlements
Explorations by the French
Champlain
Treaties of Peace
Conquest by the English
Canadian Government, Early
Changes, etc
War of 1812, The
Confederation
Upper Canadian Rebellion

Biography

Views

Tecumseh, the Shawanee Chief
Marquette's Map
Roman Catholic Cathedral
View on Richmond Street, London
An Old Settler
London Water-works
Pheasant Hunting
London Medical School
Hellmuth Ladies' College
A Midsummer Scene
Masonic Temple, London
Site of an Early Log Cabin
A Midwinter Scene
George T. Hiscox
By the River

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The first settlement of the eastern townships was made in 1794, the following letter giving the story of the pioneers:

INGERSOLL, Nov. 5, 1888

Mr William McClary: Your card received, and in reply, as William is a noted name, I will give you some facts. My grandfather's name was William Reynolds. He and Major Ingersoll, who was a resident of New York, came to Canada in 1773 (1793) and applied to Governor Simcoe, who resided at Niagara, for a grant of land in the Township of Dorchester, to my grandfather, and in Oxford to Mr. Ingersoll, providing each would cause fifty settlers to come into the township; and the following year moved into Dorchester, which would be 1774 (1794). He was not able to get the required number of settlers. The Governor withdrew his offer and gave my grand-father 1,000 acres, and each of his children 200 acres He then had five boys and two daughters. The same year my father was married to Sarah Stevens, of Burford, and settled in the township next his father, and helped to build a saw-mill near where a flouring-mill (Cartwright's) now stands. At that time there was not a white man, save his employes, in the township. My brother David, who now lives in Petrolea, was the first white child born in Dorchester. Mr. Seth Putnam moved into the town-ship six years later. It would take me several days to give a full history of the hard-ships, they being surrounded by Indians camps; would further say I now hold the old crown deed to my grandfather, and I know these dates are true.

Yours, very truly,

J. S. REYNOLDS