Branches. Grand River Branch UELAC. Volume 22, Issue 1 May Executive: President:

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1 Grand River Branch UELAC Branches Volume 22, Issue 1 May 2010 Executive: President: Secretary Corresponding Secretary Treasurer Ellen Tree 114 Delatre St. Woodstock N4S 6B jtree7437@rogers.com Marilyn E. McMillan 91 Elmhurst Ave. Simcoe N3Y 3G m.m.mcmillan@sympatico.ca William Terry Oak St Simcoe ON N3Y 3J charles@kwic.com Paul Gray 37 Manitoulin Crescent Kitchener, ON N2A 3J paul_gray@rogers.com All interested members of the public are welcome to attend our meetings, which are held March through November each year, USUALLY the third Sunday at 2:30 pm. For meeting details and other information, be sure to visit our website at Genealogist Cathy Thompson 13 Backus Dr. Box 174 Port Rowan N0E 1M dandc@execulink.com 2009 Committees Cemetery Project: Cathy Thompson Education/Outreach: Sue Hines Librarian: Jerry Tree Eva Brook Donley Liaison: Jack Beamer Newsletter: Sue Hines Project 2014: William Terry/Sue Hines Privacy Officer: Robert McCarey Refreshments: Donald and Carole Bates Membership: Alison Smith Highland Crescent Kitchener, Ontario N2M 5C Chaplin: Rev. James Files Chiefswood Liaison: Doris Marcellus

2 Branches Page 2 May 2010 Branches Nov Page 2 Meetings for 2010 Meetings begin at 2:00 pm with a social ½ hour followed by the formal meeting 2:30-4:30 Maps to meetings enclosed Sunday June 20, 2010 Woodstock Public Library 445 Hunter Street Woodstock Speaker: David Harvie The Carnegie Libraries Sunday July 18, 2010 Grey Roots Museum & Archives Owen Sound Grey Road 18 R.R. 4 Owen Sound Sunday October 17, 2010 Oakland Community Centre 3 King Street North Oakland Speaker: Marie Avey Norwich Quakers Sunday November 21, 2010 Oakland Community Centre 3 King Street North Oakland Speaker Jackie Baker Long Point Company Millionaires Speaker: Les McKinnon The Underground Railroad Sunday August 15, 2010 Central Presbyterian Church 7 Queen's Square Cambridge (Galt) Speaker: Mark Jodoin Shadow Soldiers of the American Revolution Sunday September 19, 2010 Oakland Community Centre 3 King Street North Oakland Speaker: Marilyn Smith Chambers Diaries Annual Meeting Report If you were unable to attend the Annual Meeting in March this year you may read a copy of the report on the website or if you wish to receive a copy of the report please contact the branch. Regional Meeting Members of Grand River Branch attended the Regional Meeting in London in April 2010, held at the Westmount Library and hosted by London Branch. This is a time to share with the other branches in the central west region the various projects and activities they have undertaken and to hear from the branches about the challenges and successes they have experienced during the year.

3 Page 3 Branches May 2010 Northern July Meeting Set aside July 18th for a very interesting UE experience. Plans have been made to meet at Grey Roots, a comprehensive museum village set-up to tell the story of early history in the Owen Sound/Grey-Bruce area. Yes, that s Owen Sound and it s a chance to include those of our Grand River Branch north of highway 9! The meeting will be as usual... assemble between 2 and 2:30 with the program starting at 2:30. A guest will speak about black history in Owen Sound and the surrounding area; this was an underground railroad terminal, coinciding with the period of Grey-Bruce settlement. With it being further than usual, many may want to make it a weekend. There s lots in the area of historical interest with the Marine and Rail Museum, Billy Bishop Museum, and the interesting monument to escaped slaves in Harrison Park to name a few. And then of course there s Grey Roots, the area s new museum and where our meeting will be held. There is an entrance fee if one wants to go into the various buildings, though not for the meeting hall. Get a more complete list of the area s attractions at: For Sale Loyalist Families of the Grand River Branch Vol. II Hard Cover Book $ $15.00 S&H CD/DVD $ $5.00 S&H Volume I on CD only $ S&H Sarah s Diary $ $2.00 S&H Send cheque or money order payable to: Grand River Branch UELAC to Jerry Tree 114 Delatre St. Woodstock, ON N4S 6B jtree7437@rogers.com There is a good range of accommodation in the area, though reservations well in advance are recommended as the area is a popular tourist destination; again, the website is a good place to start. We will have a package ready for the June meeting with literature on accommodation, map, and attractions. Incidentally, as part of the arrangements, we ve ordered clear, warm summer weather! Donald Bates The Log House From Six Nation at the Westfield Pioneer Village One of the highlights of the Native area at Westfield Heritage Village in Rockton, Ontario is the Native Log House. According to the booklet entitled "A Living Village: A Guide to Wentworth Heritage Village, written by Norah Navin Lozicz, the Native House was probably built around It is described as a one-and-a-half storey long house that was typical of those built on the reserve along the Lower Grand River in the early 1800's This home, which was built to shelter a native family, was once the residence of the Hill family from the Six Nations Reserve. The family lived in what today is the Sour Springs Road area. The former site of this historic home is off of Second Line, also known as Sour Springs Road, between Barney's Corner and Jehovah Corner, not far from the intersection of Mohawk Road and Second Line. Based on information available from the 1911 Census of Canada, we know that members of the Hill family lived on farmland on part of Lot 34, Concession 2, Tuscarora Township. William Hill, probably born in 1875, was listed as the head of the household and he was married to Sophia Hill, whose birth year is listed at William and Sophia's children included Nelles, Melinda, Cynthia, Rena and 1-year-old Welby. This child, Welby Hill, would become the last member of the Hill family to live in this home.

4 Branches May 2010 Page 4 According to information provided by Sherwin Maracle, a long time resident of the Reserve, who knew Welby. Known to many locals as Tessie Buck, Welby worked as a factory worker and Sherwin remembers that because he had some kind of disability, probably polio, and had difficulty walking. Welby, who was unable to climb stairs easily, kept a bed on the main floor of the house near a window. Branches November N200 Sherwin's mother, the late Mary Ella Maracle, (nee Powless) cared for Welby, cooking and cleaning for him and out of gratitude for all the work she had done for him, Welby decided to leave the house to Mary Maracle. On October 29, 1969, according to the minutes of a meeting held by the Westfield Pioneer Village Committee, it was reported that an Indian Log House was available for sale on the Reserve. At that meeting, members of the committee decided to purchase the home from Sherwin Maracle. Acting on behalf of his mother, Sherwin sold the house to Westfield. If you have any information about the 41 sites of the Westfield Village please send your information to Ms. Jennifer Enright, Researcher. Mountains 2010 Beyond Branches the Mountains November 2008 Conference 2010 Thursday, June 3 - Sunday, June 6, 2010 Presented by Pacific Region chapters - Chilliwack, Vancouver and Victoria. Hosted by the Thompson-Okanagan branch Taking place in the beautiful North Okanagan city of Vernon, British Columbia. and 1800's. Tracing the events and records of the time frame enables one to comprehend the lives lived by early ancestral Loyalists. The Battle of the Plains of Abraham, 1759 was one of the most important battles fought in Canadian history. This battle was fought on the high plains of Abraham adjoining the city of Quebec. (Angela Files) TEL: , FAX: Picture from the Government of Canada website westfield@speedway.ca 1049 Kirkwall Road, Rockton, Ontario, L0R 1X0 Following the Footsteps of Loyalists in Upper Canada Through the Political Structure of the Land Angela E. M. Files Following the footsteps of Loyalists in Upper Canada may be easier if one researches the time frame of events and the political structure of the land. District, County and Township records unfold the lives and events of the Loyalists and pioneers of the 1700's Branches Nov May

5 Page Branches May 2010 On an early drizzly morning, September 13, 1759, Major General James Wolfe, with his 3,250 men scaled the cliffs at Anse-au-Foulon, to take Quebec before winter and met French Commander, Louis- Joseph de Montcalm-Gozon Marquis de Saint-Veran on the Plains of Abraham. The battle was over in 10 minutes. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Both generals were mortally wounded during the battle; Wolfe died on the field within minutes of engagement and Montcalm died the next morning. Upon his death, General Wolfe thanked God for the British victory. The end of this battle and the death of these two generals changed the face of New France. Branches May Maps of Canada The History of Quebec

6 Branches May 2010 Page On May 2, 1774, British Royal assent was given to the passing of the Quebec Act. Sir Guy Carleton, First Baron of Dorchester ( ) was Governor of Quebec, divided the province into two vast districts, Quebec and Lancaster (modern Ontario). The boundaries of Quebec were extended to the Ohio and Mississippi River and north to Hudson Bay. The colony of Quebec was governed by the Governor and council, but there was no elected assembly. Advisors on the council represented both the French and English people. Crimes were tried by British Law and Civil cases were tried by French Law. New France as it had existed, disappeared. With the end of the eight years known as the American Revolution, some 5000 Loyalists came to settle in Upper Canada. They arrived in Upper Canada from the New England states and the western part of New York and Pennsylvania. The evacuation of the Loyalists from the port of New York along the Atlantic sea coast to the present day Maritimes was conducted by Sir Guy Carleton. Some Loyalists took canoes, some came on horseback, in carts or walked to Upper Canada (Ontario) or Lower Canada (Quebec). Families belonging to the same regiments most often took up land in the same district. Guy Carleton was born to a Protestant military family that had lived in Ireland since the 17th century, and was one of four brothers that served in the British military. In 1742, at the age of 17, he was commissioned as an Ensign in the 25th Regiment of Foot and in which in 1745 he was made a Lieutenant and became a friend of James Wolfe. On July 9, 1796 Carleton sailed from Canada to Britain never to return. On November 10, 1808, he died suddenly at Stubbings, Berkshire. He was buried in the parish church of St Swithun's. The Division of the District of Lancaster (Ontario) Into Four July 1786 The term "District" was used from the beginning of the British rule in Canada to denote the subdivision of an organized or partially organized county. Districts were created for judicial purposes. During the second term of Governor Carleton's term, Lancaster was divided into four districts. Branches May ) Lunenberg, (Upper District) extended from the Ottawa River to the Gananoque River, north to the wilderness, which was not yet surveyed. In 1791, Simcoe changed Lunenberg to the Eastern District. 2) Meeklenberg District - continued west from Gananoque River to the Trent River. 3) Nassau District stretched from York (Toronto) to Long Point on Lake Erie. In 1791, Simcoe changed Nassau to House District. 4) Hesse District ran from Long Point to Lake St. Clair. In 1791 Simcoe changed Hesse to the Western District.

7 Page Branches May 2010 These district were named to honour the German Hanoverian connection of King George III ( ), King of England ( ). Courts of Quarter Session ( ) Courts of Quarter Session tried criminal cases, and saw to the construction of roads and bridges in the District and County System. Courts and goals (jails) were to be erected; assessments paid the wages of the House of Assembly; street and highway surveyors were appointed; weights and measures were inspected; ferries regulated; liquor licences were granted. Judges, Justices of the Peace, Sheriffs, coroner's clerks were appointed. In the records of the Courts of Quarter Session appear the names of Loyalists, as well as other pioneers. Constitutional Act or Canada Act 1791 The Constitutional Act of 1791 gave the Quebec District the name of Lower Canada and the Lancaster District the name of Upper Canada. The Ottawa River, almost to its mouth, served as the dividing boundary between Upper and Lower Canada. A small region around Montreal was left as part of Lower Canada because of its French system of land holdings. On June 10, 1790, what is known as the Constitutional Act was passed and went into effect on December 26, There were approximately 100,000 French and 10,000 English in Lower Canada; about 10,000 English and a few French traders and trappers then living in Upper Canada. John Graves Simcoe the Developer of Upper Canada John Graves Simcoe ( ) First Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada, served as Major of the Queen's Rangers ( ) was an early developer in organizing Upper Canada (Ontario) for Loyalists and pioneers. Upon his arrival in Canada in July 1792, Simcoe organized the first parliamentary session in the Village of Newark (Niagara-on-the-Lake). The 16 members walked, canoed or rode on horse-back to this first parliament, a rude log building known as "Navy Hall". Government House, the abode of the Simcoe family was nothing more than a tent. In the following four weeks, the first session, eight acts were passed dealing with the governance of Upper Canada. The Loyalists wanted English Civil Law, Trial by Jury, English method of land holding, in which they could sell or rent their land.

8 Branches May 2010 Page The Constitutional Act of 1791 and the Political Structure of Upper and Lower Canada Great Britain Government Cabinet Colonial Secretary Imperial Parliament House of Commons House of Lords Crown appoints and recalls the represents the Governor General of British North America Upper Canada Lower Canada Government Provincial Government Provincial Parliament appoints the Executive Council directs the Civil Administration Parliament Lieutenant Governor or Administrator Legislative Council (no fewer than 7 members) Legislative Assembly (no fewer than 16 members) appoints the appoints for life the members of the appoints the Executive Council directs the Civil Administration Governor himself or Lieutenant Governor or Administrator Legislative Council (no fewer than 15 members) Legislative Assembly (no fewer than 50 members) appoints for life the members of the Population 1-10,000 Qualified voters Elects every 4 years, the members of the Population 1-160,000 Elects every 4 years, the members of the Qualified voters

9 Page 9 Branches Nov 2009 Townships, Districts and Counties In 1792, Simcoe named the first 19 counties, which were a union of townships, in order to have political representation in the Legislative Assembly set up under the Constitutions Act. By 1798, 19 counties increased to 24 and 4 districts increased to 8. The maps on page 7 show this progress. Counties were formed from townships. There was no county self-government until after a special legislation of Memorial to John Graves Simcoe One of the most touching memorial tablets to Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe is located in Exeter Cathedral in England and reads: "In whose life and character the virtues of the hero, the patriot and the Christian were so eminently conspicuous that it may be said: he served his King and county with a real zeal only exceeded by his piety towards God". From the tunnel of despair and hardships for the Loyalists arose the spirit and dedication of the British military to aid through records, to trace the footsteps of Loyalists and pioneers. To the men and women serving with the Royal Canadian Navy and all those who have served Congratulations Canadian Naval Centennial Oakland Community Centre 3 King Street North Oakland

10 Branches Nov 2009 Page 10 Branches Nov 2009 Grey Roots Museum & Archives Grey Road 18, RR 4 Owen Sound, ON Canada N4K 5N6 You can find us 2 km off of Highway 6 west of Rockford, south of Owen Sound, just west of Inglis Falls Road. 112 km (70 miles) west of Barrie; 202 km (126 miles) north of Toronto. MAPS Woodstock Public Library 445 Hunter Street Woodstock Central Presbyterian Church 7 Queen's Square Cambridge (Galt)