One Year of Upper Canada Scots

This month marks the one-year anniversary of Upper Canada Scots! I want to thank everyone who stopped by to read, learn, and see what life was like for the early Scottish families settling in Galt and  what is now Southern Ontario. 

The month of May is a very busy one. Firstly, I'm moving to a new city (or rather, village) where I can more easily access and enjoy the great outdoors. Secondly, I'll be flying to Nova Scotia to present another project of mine at the Society for the Study of Architecture in Canada's national conference. I have been in the process of researching and writing a book on the types of homes constructed by some of the earliest settlers to the New World. As a result of these two potentially life-altering events, I will be placing Upper Canada Scots on a brief hiatus.

In the meantime, I would very much like to hear your suggestions about the types of posts I share on this site. More book reviews? More primary document images? More local Scottish food and festivals? Let me know in the comments below.

Until then, thank you so much for being a part of this wonderful project!

- Jennifer

Mr. Dickson's House

View of Galt, Ontario, including Scotch church and Mr. Dixon's House
Drawing by Alice E. Brown in 1857, Currently a part of the Archives of Ontario collection

Sources
Archives of Ontario, 2014 "View of Galt..."
James Young's 1880, Reminiscences of the early history of Galt
First United Church, Cambridge "About Us"

Further Reading
Lucille H. Campey's 2005, The Scottish Pioneers of Upper Canada, 1784-1855: Glengarry and Beyond

Pipes, Guitar, and Flute, Oh My!

With the warmer weather upon us (finally!), it's time to venture out and experience another season of festivals, events, and games in Ontario. Many of these gatherings are a great opportunity to experience and learn more about the Scottish traditions which remain vital to many communities. What can be more Scottish than bagpipes?

Thursday, April 23, 2015 starting at 7:00pm

McDougall Cottage, Cambridge

Tel: 519-624-8250

89 Grande Ave S.

N1S 2L7

New performer. Join multi-talented musician Mark Fletcher for a fabulous evening of traditional Scottish fiddle music and song. Mark performs small pipes, mandola, guitar, flute, whistles and Highland pipes. He is joined by fellow performer Drew Skuce (bodhran) for a fantastic evening of Scottish tunes. Music spanning 4 centuries, from both the Scottish Borders and the Highlands will be featured; some linked to history and historical figures and some just for the fun of the music. www.markfletcher.ca.

Admission by cash donation.

All Aboard!

This image has nothing overtly to do with early settlement and Scottish culture, but it caught my attention enough that I thought it worth sharing. I love coming across images of home from different periods and perspectives. Galt at the start of the 20th century was absolutely bursting with potential and promise - all aboard!

Galt, Preston and Hespeler Street Railway, 1903

Sources
Waterloo Public Library, "Galt, Preston and Hespeler Street Railway"

Further Reading
Kitchener-Waterloo Street Railway 2007, "A History..."
TheRecord.com March 27, 2015 "Century-old streetcar line found under LRT construction"
The Globe and Mail 2010, "No desire for this Waterloo streetcar"
CBC February 25, 2015 "LRT construction set to close King Street in Kitchener in March"

Special Announcement!

Scottish Blackface Sheep

Each post during the month of March will be dedicated to sheep in Upper Canada/Canada West - who kept them, how many, which breeds were preferred, and of course their many uses.

Why sheep? Why not?

As a special bonus this month I've teamed up with fellow colleague and wool aficionado Caroline Bendiner. She's prepared guest blog posts on early 19th century methods of turning fleece into wool, as well as where you can see these methods being used today.

For March there will also be a number of extra posts related to sheep facts. Never again will you come face to face with an Ovis aries and not know that while it may have four stomachs, it has no top front teeth.

Don't forget to check back often, and of course feel free to comment - let's show our guest blogger some love!

It Takes a Village

A census is a wonderful tool for looking back at a population at a particular point in time. What were their names? Where did they come from? What did they do to get by? While census data is often bare-bones and provides the most basic facts, it can help us to understand a community and create a framework that can later be filled in by other source material.

In 1851 a census was completed for Galt, which included information on its 2,246 residents: Name, Place of birth; Religion; Occupation; Age; Marriage status; etc. If you've ever wondered what you might do for a living in a small Victorian village, take a look at the graph I've compiled below. Not every census taker had an occupation listed, and I have a sneaking suspicion that there were in fact more farmers... but this information, though incomplete, is eye-opening. You can check out the rest of the census in an easy to read PDF document here.

You do what exactly? Well, a Spinster is an unmarried (and not likely to become married) woman. She might be living and looking after the welfare of older relatives, or living with and looking after the education of nieces and nephews. Coopers are makers and repairers of casks and barrels. A Teamster is someone who drives a team of draft animals and a wagon. You can think of them as the equivalent of transport truck drivers today. Sadlers make, sell and.or repair saddlery. A Mill Wright is someone who builds and maintains mills and their internal machinery. Cordwainers are actually shoemakers who work with cordovan leather. Fleshers flesh hides and skins and tan them in the production of leather. They may also sell meat - in other words, a butcher. Pedlers are travelling salesmen, often going from door to door to trade and sell any number of items. Lime Burners process limestone (by means of baking it in large kilns) into a number of agricultural and home products such as quicklime for home construction, whitewash, and for spreading on fields as a fertilizer. A House Joiner is a type of carpenter that cuts and fits wood without the use of nails, screws, or other metal fasteners. Lastly, a Carriage Trimmer is someone who preps and finishes the lace, linings, and other trimmings for carriage makers.

Sources
Waterloo Region 1851 Census, Transcribed by the Ontario Genealogical Society in 2001.

Shopping in Shade's Mills

For the early settlers arriving and establishing themselves in Shade's Mills/Galt, there were but a few options when it came to purchasing the goods they needed and/or wanted.


Excerpt from James Young's Reminiscences of Galt, Page 54

The first option was to visit the combined home/general store of Absalom Shade and his second wife, Isabella. This two-storey log home was the first to be built in the new settlement (c.1816), and was located near the corner of Main and Water streets. (Young, 31) By the following year a blacksmith's shop had opened, thus providing the necessary materials and equipment for life on a farm. Mr. Shade was able to secure for himself a bit of a monopoly for his general store, and later increased his trade in 1824 with the opening of a second and larger shop, known as the Red store. (Young, 48) With a promise from William Dickson that no land would be sold to anyone else wishing to construct or operate a shop, Shade was able to comfortably grow his personal fortune.

Nearly a decade later, Mr. Shade added the 'White store' to his holdings (c.1832). Different from the Red store which conducted business in credit or barter, the White store worked in cash. (Young, 109) There was also now a hatter in the village, as well as a tavern, and a hotel. As the population of Dumfries township and surrounding areas grew, so to did competition. In neighbouring Preston, and in Waterloo, shops were able to offer goods at lower prices. The construction of roads, relative ease of transport (as compared to the previous decades), growing industry in other larger towns, and increased demand for "luxury" items encouraged businessmen to open up new enterprises.* By 1838 a former pedlar had opened a shop in the heart of Galt, and Shade's monopoly was effectively broken.

Sources

Black Sheet Iron Money Box, c.1830-1850

Dictionary of Canadian Biography 2014, "Shade, Absalom"James Young's 1880, Reminiscences of the early history of Galt
McCalla, Douglas. “Retailing in the Countryside: Upper Canadian General Stores in the Mid-Nineteenth Century”. In Business and Economic History, Winter 1997; 26, 2. Pages 393-403.

Further Reading
For more information on the credit and barter systems, you can check out a previous blog post here.
W. Hamish Fraser's 1981 The Coming of the Mass Market,1850-1914. 

Michael Gonder Scherck's 1905 Early Pioneer Life in Upper Canada.

* It has been shown that villages/towns with populations over 500 tend to see the growth of specialised shops. For example, rather than visiting a general store for items you might need, you can visit the shoemaker, the harness shop, the carpenter, or the grocer's separately. Ideally, these specialised shops would be able to offer you more selection, and possibly better prices. (McCalla)

Huron County Museum

Central School, constructed in 1856

A few weeks ago I happily seized upon an opportunity to visit the Huron County Museum and Historic Gaol in Goderich, Ontario. This was my first visit to the museum, though once inside I felt right at home. The permanent exhibits focus on development - development of the Huron Tract from forests to farms to thriving modern communities; development of agricultural technology and methods over the past two hundred-plus years; and the development of the people from settlers to soldiers, and from farmers to Victorian and Edwardian fashionistas.

1913 Steam Locomotive

The settlement of Goderich is a product of the Canada Company (at that time headed by John Galt), and it's Warden of the Woods and Forests, William "Tiger" Dunlop. Founded in 1827, and linked by a "muddy sleigh track" to Guelph by the following year, it became a popular destination for early British settlers. By its incorporation date in 1850, it had amassed a population of about 800 people. Today, the town of Goderich is home to 7,500.

The Huron County Museum is located near the radial core of Goderich, and is housed within a former schoolhouse (c.1856) and a large, modern addition (c.1989). The layout of the museum is such that it keeps you guessing what might be around the next corner. As I zigzagged through each space, I was constantly surprised and delighted at what I found. Particular exhibits of interest were the replica settlers' cabin (displaying the conditions in which early settlers lived), and of course the Huron County Main Street (for a little 19th century window shopping).

Two-Headed Calf

Finding Goderich and the museum is easy. When I give friends directions I always like to say that if you've driven into Lake Huron, you've gone too far. The museum itself has incredibly friendly staff, and the low admission includes your own audio guide. On your way out you can visit their gift shop and take home some very unique items - like the two-headed calf toy pictured here (they have a taxidermy specimen in the reception area that has become popular with adults and children alike). I would recommend the Huron County Museum to anyone, at any time of year. In the summer you can head out to the beach after your visit, or in the winter you can enjoy a snowy drive and Christmas shopping in the "prettiest town in Canada".

Sources
Huron County Museum and Historic Gaol Online
Hilary Stead 2002, Guelph: A People's Heritage 1827-2002
You can get a head-start by taking a look at the museum's floor plan, here.
Huron County Museum Blog, 2014

Further Reading
Ontario's West Coast 2010, "Huron History"
Immigrants to Canada, "Letters Collected by the Canada Company, to Encourage Emigration 1842" Many of these letters reference the road between Guelph and Goderich; its condition, construction, and uses.

John Galt and the Elgin Marbles

This is an example of one of those times when I've very audibly (and embarrassingly) shouted "NO way!" while doing research. This is also an example which proves just how small and interconnected our world really is. It's the story of how many of the Elgin Marbles came incredibly close to being known to us today as the Galt Marbles.

Portion of the east side of the Parthenon pediment,
on display at the British Museum

John Galt was doing what any 19th century man of his means would do when under the weather, or otherwise evading creditors or looking for distraction; tour the continent. He left London in 1809, and by 1811 had found himself in Italy and in Greece. The Mediterranean was a popular place at the time, especially for Romantic poets and writers eager for inspiration from the "East". Lord Byron, one of Galt's contemporaries and sometimes travel companion, was also in Greece at this time. It is Galt's connection to Byron that introduces him to the world of opportunistic art sales.

In his book Byron and Scotland: Radical or Dandy, Angus Calder describes Byron's friendship with Signore Luseri, an Italian Agent and artist-in-residence in Athens for Lord Elgin. Luseri had been working with Elgin for almost a decade in Greece on the documentation and eventual removal of the Parthenon sculptures to Britain. Despite Byron's protests that such removals of ancient artefacts were tantamount to rape,  he continued his friendship with Luseri.


It is during the second shipment of the marble statues out of Athens that John Galt becomes involved to the point where his morals are set firmly aside.  He learns from Luseri that Elgin is having financial issues, and may be unable to pay the freight (the cost of the ship, etc.) when it arrives in Malta. The ship would then of course confiscate its cargo in lieu of payment, and deal with the sculptures as the captain sees fit. Galt is not the only one to hear of this desperate news, however, for the French as also keen to add to their collection.

Monsieur Favelle, the French Consul in Athens, had been instructed to remove any and all possible works of antiquity from Greece and supply them to the Musee Napoleon (the Louvre) for permanent and glorious display. Upon hearing of Elgin's money woes, Favelle sees a chance to seize the shipload and claim the pieces for the Emperor. Galt decides (aboard the very ship that the marbles are travelling on) that he will pay the freight, save the day for Britain, and make a tidy sum for himself once he sells the cargo to eager and illustrious buyers in London.

John Galt, from his Autobiography in 1833

The plan could have worked wonderfully. The British Museum could now be in possession of the Galt Marbles, as well as the Elgin Marbles. Galt could have been an even wealthier man - would he have spent those funds creating more settlements in Upper Canada? Luseri, however, was a man of business and persuasion. He managed to alleviate the debts of Elgin in Malta and retain possession of the Greek artefacts; eventually sending them all the way to Britain. Galt was admittedly conflicted by this outcome. While he was saddened by the loss of fortune and fame that the sculptures would bring him back home, he was also steadfast in his agreement with Byron that the works were taken wrongfully in the first place.

Sources
The British Museum 2014, "What are the 'Elgin Marbles'?"
John Galt's 1833, The Autobiography of John Galt
Angus Calder's 1989, Byron and Scotland: Radical or Dandy?
Ozlem Caykent's 2010, "John Galt's Travels"

Further Reading
Encyclopaedia Britannica 2014, "Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin"
Biography.com 2014, "Lord Byron Biography"
Metropolitan Museum of Art 2014, "Romanticism"

Model Railway and Local History

This past weekend I visited the St. Jacobs and Aberfoyle Model Railway in St. Jacobs, Ontario. The 3,000 square foot display focuses on Southern Ontario in the 1950s, and includes various urban and rural scenes (during the day and night).

The detail in each of the hand-made elements of this model is astounding, and I spent a great deal of time examining each building (in many cases there were little people going about their "lives" inside). The most endearing features of the exhibit, however, are the many nods to local life, geography, and architecture. Ah nostalgia!

A Mennonite barn raising is in progress next to a small farm and sawmill, while a man and a cat watch from the farmhouse porch. At a small campsite a tent has been pitched and a bear spies on a family as they sit around a small campfire. The Niagara Escarpment is an integral feature of the display, and the cliffs and foliage act as the perfect canvas for the scenes below.

In the more urban sections of the model railway, I was drawn immediately to a building that many in Galt (Cambridge) would recognize: The Galt Post Office.



"Built between 1884 and 1887, the Former Galt Post Office served an important function as the home of the post office, customs, and other government services. This post office was one of the many buildings erected during the course of a program of government construction in small communities and towns across Canada under the direction of Thomas Fuller, Chief Architect of the Department of Public Works from 1881 to 1896. The high standard of design imposed by Fuller is evident in the former Galt Post Office. Typical of his designs, the building features an round-arched entrance portico, symmetrical twin façades and a clock tower, in this case uniquely adapted to be visible from both the street and the Grand River. The steeply pitched mansard roof, as well as the use of contrasting colours and textures and the accomplished stonework, come together to create a striking blend of the Gothic, Second Empire and Romanesque styles." (HP)

Of course I could not cap off this trip to the Model Railway without a stop in Galt for dinner right across from the old post office - this time in full scale.

I would absolutely recommend that everyone who has the opportunity to visit the Model Railway should do so. Admission is $8 for adults, and the volunteer staff are amazing. When you're done exploring you can head out and spend the rest of the day in St. Jacobs, making sure of course to stop at A Touch of Scotland for some mushy peas, tartans, and other Scottish treats.

Sources

St. Jacobs and Aberfoyle Model Railway Website, 2014

Cambridge Times 2013, "A little Cambridge moves down the track, stops in St. Jacobs"

(HP) Canada's Historic Places, 2014 "Former Galt Post Office National Historic Site of Canada"

Further Reading
Canadian Encyclopedia Online, 2013 "Thomas Fuller"
Your Heritage Waterloo Region, 2014 "Old Galt Post Office" Search Results for some great images

From the Pen of William Dickson

The Honourable William Dickson was educated, eloquent, and greatly opinionated (in addition to his also being the founder of the Township of Dumfries, and of Galt); Three qualities which were often demonstrated in his personal correspondence and at various speaking engagements. His sentiments are so clear that you can almost picture him preaching the benefits of a conservative and obedient life under the Crown (the dour expression in the photo below should assist you should you need inspiration). I always find learning about history through the eyes and pens of its participants particularly appealing. Thus, the following are excerpts from a speech delivered to his fellow Galtonians in 1839 on the occasion of his 70th birthday. His words give us a glimpse into his world, and into his mind, on all things political, social, and emotional.*

On the Difficulties of Settlement
"Embarrassments and difficulties beset me - despondency sometimes showed her unwelcome visage." (JY, 176)

"Many of you have had your days and nights of gloom - you have encountered privations, toil, trouble, and uphill exertions, but many of you have attained the summit of your wishes, and others are in a progressive advance." (JY, 177)

On the creation of Upper Canada in 1791

"I was then at Niagara, when General Simcoe first addressed the assembled Legislature; and well do I remember the joy and enthusiasm which pervaded all classes and ranks, on such a boon being granted." (JY, 177)

On Upper Canadian prosperity
"If the people of Upper Canada are not happy and contented, it must mainly be their own fault." (JY, 181)

On Dumfries / Galt
"... I entertain, and shall always continue to feel, a lively interest in all that relates to Dumfries; and I have especial pleasure in receiving the evidence of the satisfaction and prosperity which seems to prevail among its inhabitants." (JY, 173)

On the French and politics
"The Constitution and form of Government that was at that time conferred on the Canadas has worked well in practice in Upper Canada, and would have worked equally well in Lower Canada, had not the malignant, ambitious, and selfish French demagogues poisoned the minds of an illiterate peasantry - inducing them at length to throw off the mask of moderation, and factiously to resort to insurrection, treason, and rebellion." (JY, 177-178)

On the United States and civil war
"Reflecting on the change in the national character of the descendants of British subjects, I am almost warranted in adopting an opinion that the elective principle, carried on to an extreme stretch, has changed the pulse of men and inoculated the people of the United States with principles destructive of liberty and good government, and that the time may yet arrive, when, on the revolving wheels of their government, the clog of despotism may be found not to be that far distant from that of democracy, and when civil broils and a servile war may madden to a contest, which, for the sake of humanity, may kind Providence in his mercy avert." (JY, 180)

*As these are excerpts, they are taken somewhat out of their original context. To fully understand his words, be sure to check the source material referenced.

Other interesting Dickson facts
- He was challenged to a duel in 1808 by a colleague, Mr. Weeks, who had felt he had been publicly insulted by him. Dickson won, and Mr. Weeks died three hours later. (JY, 16)
- He was captured in Niagara-on-the-Lake (at that time known simply as Niagara) by American forces in June 1813 and jailed in Albany until the following January. When he returned he found his house, and the village had been razed.(JK)
- He was a member of the Family Compact

Sources:
(JK) James E. Kerr's 1916, "Sketch of the Life of the Honourable William Dickson"
(JY) James Young's 1880, "Reminiscences of the Early History of Galt and the Settlement of Dumfries in the Province of Ontario"

Further Reading:
Dictionary of Canadian Biography 2014, "William Dickson"
Cambridge Archives and Records Centre, "Honourable William Dickson"

Waste Not, Want Not (When Mackenzie Came to Town)

No matter where you're from, being able to make a connection to a (in)famous individual through a specific location can be a source of pride. While I'm not personally for violent rebellion, I was nonetheless a bit starstruck that William Lyon Mackenzie had once visited the fair little village of Galt. His effigy was there too... and as it turns out, neither of them fared too well.

William Lyon Mackenzie

It was 1833 and William Lyon Mackenzie was touring the province; speaking to small crowds of men from all walks of life, attempting to drum up support for political reform. He was a well known critic of the ruling Family Compact and its individual members, and indeed had been expelled numerous times from the Upper Canada Assembly (only to be re-elected back in each time). What he wanted were investigations into past alleged abuses of power on behalf of the government, and better representation for the people of the growing settlements in the province.

While support for Mackenzie continued to exist throughout Upper Canada, it began to wane as his ideas became viewed as too radical, or disloyal to the Crown. Thus, when he decided to speak at the little (and only) tavern in Galt in 1833 there were both fellow reformers and adversarial Tories in attendance. From neighbouring townships there amassed a crowd estimated to be a few hundred strong, but as we all know, it only takes one to ruin a party.

As supporters were eagerly listening to Mackenzie in the afternoon sun, there could be seen an unusual pair of shapes coming toward them from Main Street. Those shapes were in fact, "a person with a blackened face and fantastic dress... carrying a hideous-looking effigy" (Young). Supposedly to continue the theme, the effigy (meant to be Mackenzie) was also fully dressed for the occasion with the addition of a parcel of gunpowder hidden within. A group of Mackenzie and reform detractors were looking to make it quite clear that such men and policies were not welcome in their village.

Men's Leather Shoe, 1799
Bata Shoe Museum Collection

The gun powder lit and the effigy exploded into flames in front of its horrified audience. Mackenzie meanwhile continued his speech completely unfazed - shouting his words with a smile on his face from the tavern window to the crowd below. Among his supporters, and a member of that crowd, was a young farmer by the name of Marshall. By his attendance at Mackenzie's speech that day Marshall demonstrated his desire for political change. Equally, by his exceedingly hasty exit from that speech along with the very boots that adorned the inflamed effigy, he demonstrated his desire for decent footwear.

Why let good things go to waste?

Sources
James Young's 1880, Reminisces of the Early History of Galt and the Settlement of Dumfries in the Province of Ontario.
James Young's 1912, Public Men and Public Life in Canada: The Story of the Canadian Confederacy
Historica Canada, 2013, "Rebellion in Upper Canada"
Dictionary of Canadian Biography, 1976, "William Lyon Mackenzie"

Further Reading
Bata Shoe Museum, 2014

Mill Creek

The confluence of Mill Creek and the Grand River is where William Dickson and Absalom Shade first decided to begin the settlement that would eventually become Galt, and later Cambridge. For some reason Mill Creek is plainly visible in Google Maps... but disappears once it hits Main Street in the Satellite view. Is it there or isn't it?

It turns out that Mill Creek was in fact there in a very big way, and still is. It has simply been altered over time to suit the needs of those developing the area since the early nineteenth century. Today, the creek has simply been diverted underground to accommodate a more modern way of living - one that's not as dependant on the productivity of mills and water-powered factories, etc. The following two images are part of a series of six completed by PLANT Architect Inc. in Toronto, Ontario. I encourage you to visit their site to see all of the maps in sequence.

In an upcoming blog I'll be detailing the importance and inner working of various mills in the Galt area; so stay tuned! In the meantime, feel free to browse the Further Reading links provided.

Sources

PLANT Architect Inc. 2012, "Mill Creek Galt"

Google Maps, 2014, "Cambridge"

Further Reading

Grand River Conservation Authority, 2014, "Low Water Response: Mill Creek"

April Souwand and Derek Coleman, A Natural History of Cambridge, Ontario

The Township of North Dumfries, 2014, "History"

Debating Societies

As a means of self-improvement for gentlemen, and as an “inner and outer polish” for young men preparing for their entrance into respectable society, a number of debating societies were created in Galt in the mid-nineteenth century. (Holman, 123) Such types of intellectual clubs were popular throughout the Victorian period, as it allowed men to practice and hone their speaking skills, as well as network with respected members of their community. 


Above: Homer Watson's Collecting the Hay
Below: Royal Exchange Square, Glasgow

In his Reminiscences, James Young describes one such debating society, established in 1834, which would meet at the home of Mr. John Reid on cold winter evenings to discuss the most relevant topics of the day. (Young, 70) The questions raised and discussed at these meetings covered all manner of subjects from politics to religion, from gender issues to education, and from science to the arts. Many are so timeless (and so philosophical) that they can still be debated at great length today.

Five of the questions regularly put towards the abovementioned group include:

• Which is the most benefit to mankind, Agriculture or Commerce?
• Whether is the profane man or the hypocrite most injury to society?
• Which is the most destructive element, fire or water?
• Whether does wood or iron most benefit mankind?
• Would a ship made of iron sink or swim?

Other subjects were a bit more controversial by today's standards: "Whether or Not Woman is Mentally Inferior to Man". To perhaps add to the controversy, the decisions of the various debating clubs were printed in local newspapers. In December 1860, the Reformer published the Galt Literary and Debating Society decision that woman was in fact inferior to man. (Holman, 123)

I encourage you, next time you're with a group of friends or colleagues, to bring up a few of these questions and see what happens. (If you're really keen you can attempt to debate these issues from a Victorian male, or female, point of view.)

Sources
Andrew Holman's 2000, Sense of Their Duty: Middle-Class Formation in Victorian Ontario Towns
James Young's 1880, Reminiscences of the early history of Galt...

Further Reading

Andrew Holman (ed.) 2013, More of a Man: Diaries of a Scottish Craftsman in Mid-Nineteenth Century North America
City of Cambridge Archives Online

The Canada Company

Canada Company Coat of Arms
The country does not alter the race

The Canada Company, founded in 1825, was established to promote and assist in the colonization of Upper Canada. As a private firm however, its main goal was the sale of land (primarily in south-western Ontario) to new immigrants. The company had purchased about 2.5 million acres from the government in 1826 for this purpose, and in so doing ushered in a new era of development; private firms in charge of land administration rather than the crown.

Many Scottish immigrants took advantage of the new organization and had nothing but praise for the company (and land) after having been settled: "The land here [North Easthope Township, now the Township of Perth East in Perth County] is good and well-watered, the terms of the Upper Canada Land Company are liberal, requiring the settler only pay a fifth of the purchase money when the land is applied for, and the remainder in five yearly instalments with interest at six per cent. The Company at present [1836] sell their land at 12s. 6d. currency per acre being equal to 10s. 8d. British, and the only stipulation is to clear off each year about three and a half acres for every 100 acres owned by a settler... There are grist mills and saw mills within a few miles of us east and west, also a store where goods of all kinds are sold. This settlement is mostly Scotch, almost wholly so where we are settled, and the utmost goodwill and unanimity prevails. We enjoy, though obtained at present by hard labour and perseverance, all the necessary worldly comforts and with the prospect, if we and our families are spared, of seeing them and us all independent and comfortable farmers, farming our own land." (Campey, 131) 

Canada Company Poster

While a great many immigrants benefited from the company as settlers, the company was not without its controversies. One Reverend Patrick Bell, a Presbyterian minister from Angus referred to the men working for the Canada Company as "cruel seducers" who would lead poor Scots out into the wilderness to starve (Campey, 130). Some settlers in later years would complain that the price per acre had become too high. Still others considered the professional relationship between the Canada Company and the Family Compact to be a little too close for comfort. In fact, many considered them to be one and the same; An exclusive club of elites who only work for and with each other. Political animosity towards the ruling Family Compact resulted in open rebellion in 1837 and 1838. After that period and the sharp decline of those ruling elites, the Canada Company streamlined its operations, became far more inclusive, and continued to operate until all of its lands were finally sold off in 1951.

John Galt (the Scottish novelist and founder of Guelph and of Goderich in 1827, and the namesake of the former Shade's Mills) was the first Secretary and Superintendent of the Canada Company. His tenure was cut short however, by company directors who considered him a little too interested in the actual welfare of settlers over profit margins. Galt spent only three years in the province before heading back to Scotland; dying in 1839. A further discussion of Galt and his achievements will be forthcoming in another post. In the meantime, please check out the further reading links below to some of the original documents related to the creation of the Canada Company.

Sources
Wikipedia, 2014 "Canada Company" (not a bad place to start for some good overview and a list of members/positions)
Canadian Encyclopedia, 2013 "Canada Company"
Canada in the Making, "Post-Loyalist Settlement (1814-1830)"
Canadian Dictionary of Biography, 1988, "John Galt"
Lucille H. Campey's 2005, The Scottish Pioneers of Upper Canada, 1784-1855

Further Reading
'A Bill to enable His Majesty to grant to a Company, to be incorporated by charter, to be called "The Canada Company," certain lands in the province of Upper Canada, and to invest the said company with certain powers and privileges relating thereto' (London, House of Commons, 1825).
National Archives of Canada, Map of the Lands of the Huron Tract Belonging to the Canada Company by Samuel Oliver Tazewell.

You Were Here

It is only natural that when presented with a map - any map - one will always look for a familiar place name or feature. Being able to place oneself somewhere within the map's borders makes it more relevant. It also makes it more exciting. I recently came across this map of Galt, produced in 1861, in which I can clearly see the property lines for my childhood home.

Tremaine's Map of the County of Waterloo, Canada West. Compiled & Drawn from
 Actual & Original Surveys by the Publishers. Geo. R. & G.M. Tremaine, Toronto, 1861.
 (City of Cambridge Archives)

Davidson Street!

What's in a Name? History

Many are familiar with the place names listed below, but are unaware that each denotes a very specific period in the history of the province of Ontario.

Pays d'en Haut (1500s-1763) From initial discovery to France's loss to the English in the Seven Years' War, Ontario was a wilderness region of New France referred to as "the upper country".

Quebec (1763-1791) After the Treaty of Paris in 1763, the British crown took over New France, named it Quebec, and included the large colony into it's already substantial North American holdings.

Upper Canada (1791-1841) The American Revolution, ending in 1883, encouraged thousands of loyalists to move north to Quebec (which remained a part of the Crown). With this new influx of settlers came a demand for English laws and government - as opposed to the French civil system still in operation in the colony. The Constitution Act of 1791 divided Quebec into Upper and Lower Canada, and provided Upper Canadians with their own Lieutenant Governor and legal system.

Canada West (1841-1867) Upper and Lower Canada were rejoined in 1841 as the Province of Canada in a political and cultural attempt to overpower the then dominant French population (as well as any potential rebels on both sides). Although the province was now unified, each region remained distinct as Canada West, and Canada East.

Ontario (1867- ) With Confederation came yet another separation as the Province of Canada was divided into roughly the Ontario and Quebec we know today. Ontario's borders were finally established to the north and west by 1912.

Maps depicting borders in 1774 and 1791

Maps depicting borders in 1867 and 1912

Name changes also apply to the smaller scale of villages and cities:

Shade's Mills (1816-1827) Named after Absalom Shade who was hired by founder William Dickson to manage and superintend the new settlement in Dumfries. Shade quickly established a saw and grist mill as well as a shop and home for himself and his family.

Galt (1827-1973) For many settlements, the establishment of a post office is a big deal. It's an opportunity to put your name on the map (and subsequently make it easier for everyone to find you and do business with you). Many settlements stick with the name they've started with, while others take this opportunity to change theirs to something else.* William Dickson decided to change the name of Shade's Mills to Galt after Scottish poet and friend, John Galt.

Cambridge (1973- ) In 1973 the city of Galt, the towns of Preston and Hespeler, and the hamlet of Blair amalgamated to become Cambridge.

*Some communities didn't have a choice in the matter once they realized that they share the same name as another settlement that already received a post office. You can't have two Burwick, Canada Wests: So the community just north of what is now Toronto changed their name to Woodbridge in 1855.

Sources
Dictionary of Canadian Biography, 2014 "Absalom Shade"
Archives of Ontario, 2011 "The Changing Shape of Ontario" (Economic Atlas of Ontario / Atlas Économique de l'OntarioW. G. Dean, Editor/ Directeur; G. J. Mathews, Cartographer/ CartographePrinted 1969 by University of Toronto Press for the Government of Ontario)
City of Vaughan, "A Brief History of Woodbridge"

Further Reading
Canadian Encyclopedia, "Seven Years' War"
Canadian Encyclopedia, "Durham Report"
Canadian Museum of History, 2014 "Virtual Museum of New France"

McDougall Cottage

Last month I had the opportunity to visit McDougall Cottage - a small but lovely historic home located along the shore of the Grand River at Grand Avenue South and Cedar Street.

"McDougall Cottage, ca.1858 granite and limestone labourer's dwelling, is located in downtown Cambridge in the historic factory district. Home for more than a century to two families of hardworking Scots, the McDougalls and the Bairds, this charming traditional cottage with its equally charming pocket-sized gardens, boasts the most spectacular hand-painted friezes (patterns along the top of walls or buildings) and trompe l'oeil ceilings (three dimensional illusions) that Ontario has to offer.
The Cottage serves as an interpretation centre, showcasing its unique interior landscape and presenting mini-exhibits on monthly themes." (Region of Waterloo)

During my visit I was able to see a temporary exhibit on quilting with a Scottish theme, as well as the beautiful friezes described in the quote above. There's a massive kitchen with a conservatory overlooking the gardens to the back of the house. There are apparently monthly teas held in this space which I'd love to attend. The staff are incredibly friendly and easy to talk to - a highly recommended little stop in Cambridge (right across from the Southworks Antique Market!). For more information on the cottage, its hours and calendar of events, see the links below.



Sources
Region of Waterloo, 2010 "McDougall Cottage"
Region of Waterloo, 2014 "Happenings at McDougall Cottage"
McDougall Cottage's Facebook Page
Cambridge Now, 2014 "McDougall Cottage"

Pioneer Pergola, Galt (Cambridge)

I recently visited the Pioneer Pergola in Cambridge last week. I have visited the site more times than I can count, but it's only as an adult that I can truly appreciate the lives of the people represented by these tombstones, and really visualise the world in which they lived.

The pergola is located in a small and peaceful park on St. Andrews Street in Cambridge Ontario, right across from Dickson Public School. During my elementary years at Dickson (built in 1876 and also attended by my grandmother in the 1940s), my class would often visit the park to practise snowshoeing, or to learn about the natural environment. The tombstones were something to be respected - or marginally feared if you happened to find your first or last name on one of them.

Today, they are a slowly vanishing reminder of the people who created a thriving village out of a forest. Many of the tombstones date from the 1840s-50s, and indicate the individual's place of birth. Inverness-shire, Perthshire, Roxburghshire, and Aberdeenshire were all major counties in Scotland which contributed eager settlers to the Township of North Dumfries.

Further Reading:

Canada's Historic Places, "Pioneer Pergola"
Plaque Text can be found, unofficially, here.
Canada's Historic Places, "Dickson Public School"

Photos were taken by myself, May 2014.

View of 1820

I always find it interesting to compare images of cities and places at a particular point in time. Since a picture is worth a thousand words, I'll let these two speak for themselves.

Galt in 1820, population: Approximately 40 families in North Dumfries Township

Rough Sketch of Shade's Mills (Galt) In the year 1820, by Homer Watson to be found in James Young's Reminiscences of the Early History of Galt and the Settlement of Dumfries in the province of Ontario.

Edinburgh in 1820, population: 138,255.

Edinburgh from the Carlton Hill, 1820, After Joseph Mallord William Turner, Tate Collection