Vol. 28 No. 3 September - October 2003 ESQUESING HISTORICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER P.O. Box 51, Georgetown, Ontario, Canada L7G 4T1 www.hhpl.on.ca/sigs/ehs/home.html GLEN WILLIAMS - A CEMETERY WITH A VIEW! Enjoy the view and learn about the families of Glen Williams with your cemetery tour guide - Mark Rowe on the evening of September 10th . It all started with the founding family. Benajah Williams (1765-1851) of New York state came to Niagara about 1786 with his family. Williams established a woollen mill in Gainsborough Township, Niagara and about 1805, married his third wife, Elizabeth Kennedy, sister of the five Kennedy brothers. Benajah and Elizabeth Williams (1788-1842) came here with their nine children to start a new life, even though he was now 60 years of age. Their children were Joel, Lydia, Charles, George (1813-1836), Jacob, Ira (1819-1822), Isaac, Anna (1822-1823) and Israel (1824-?). They also had David and Ezra (1829-1829) here in Esquesing. The saw mill was built immediately with the help of his children. He probably had the help of his Kennedy relatives and John Leslie (1766-1842), his 59 year old neighbour and his children, George, James, Margaret and young John. Lydia Williams (1809-1871) married James Leslie (1800-1873) in 1828. Joel Williams (1806-1871) was listed at various times as blacksmith, mechanic, carpenter and clothier in the early days of Glen Williams, but he eventually settled on lot 21, concession 11, where he raised his family and lived as a farmer. Charles Williams (1811-1889) purchased the saw and flour mills from his father in 1842. He later became owner of the woollen mill, Justice of the Peace, Postmaster and a significant landowner. In 1836 he married Mary Jane Browne (1816-1879). They had seven children who figured largely in the history of Glen Williams. The fifth child was Jacob Williams (1816-1853). He started the woollen mill in 1839, buying the lands north of the Methodist Church from his father in 1843. He married Frances Huestis (1822-1887) and had five children. But death claimed him at a young age. Brother Charles took over the woollen mill and built his widowed sister-in-law a brick house overlooking the mill (15 Mountain Street). Isaac Williams (1820-1911) was a tanner, a cabinetmaker, pump maker, shingle maker and even a purveyor of tonic medicine. He married in 1842, Sarah Mariah Ackert (1824-1897). Her brothers, John and Adam Ackert, were also pump makers, Adam establishing a successful business in Ballinafad. Israel Williams was a labourer in the 1860's, but left the area. His brother David (1827-1902) became a minister in the Episcopal Methodist Church in 1864, following in the steps of his uncle Rev. Morris Kennedy and following the example of (good Rev. Ezra Adams( of Acton. He was one of the executors of his brother Charles( will signed in 1888, when he was in Norfolk County. Enjoy the view and learn about the families of Glen Williams with your cemetery tour guide - Mark Rowe on the evening of September 10th . Meet at the Glen Williams Town Hall at 7 p.m. for a brisk walk up the steep Prince Street, or park at the top of the hill on the shoulder of the road. There is no parking within the cemetery. The tour will begin about 7:15 p.m. Refreshments will be served at the Glen Town Hall following the tour. This will be a great opportunity to examine the many local photographs on the walls of the Hall. GLEN WILLIAMS CEMETERY Maria wife of John STULL, died Nov. 13, 1865, aged 61 years. Captain John STULL died March 21, 1858 aged 55 years, 9 mos, 24 days, native of Niagara District. Benajah WILLIAMS died Nov. 22, 1851, aged 86 years, 3 mos, 1day. Elizabeth, wife of Benajah WILLIAMS, died Jan. 26, 1842, aged 54 years, 5 mos, 30 days. John LESLIE, died Oct. 26, 1900, aged 88 years, 8 weeks, his wife Jane STARRETT, died April 16, 1902, aged 86 years. Robert LESLIE died Feb. 2, 1923, aged 86 years. Catherine LESLIE died July 28, 1929, aged 81 years. Eliza LESLIE, wife of Edw MORRIS, born 1851, died 1934. Hattie M. CAMPBELL died Oct. 31, 1894, aged 29 years. Annie Mabel, daughter of DS & Sarah LESLIE died Sept. 22, 1874, aged 7 months. Maggie LESLIE wife of Wm CAMPBELL, died Dec. 7, 1886, aged 31 years. William McCLURE, native of Co. Antrim, Ireland, died Feb. 18, 1887, aged 77 years. Margaret McGILVRAY McCLURE 1851 - 1940. Elizabeth died April 4, 1881, aged 38 years, 8 months, 7 days. Elizabeth LESLIE, granddaughter died April 5, 1881 aged 5 years, 10 days. Barbara Ann SMITH wife of William McCLURE died July 31, 1868 in her 84th year. William ALEXANDER died Nov. 2, 1890 aged 87 years, 10 months. Margaret WADDELL, wife of the above, died Nov. 5, 1876, aged 72 years. Natives of Glasgow, Scotland. SILVER CREEK STAGE 4 ARCHEOLOGICAL MITIGATION 1.0 INTRODUCTION In July 1999, Historic Horizon Inc. was contracted by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation to conduct Stage 4 mitigation on two archaeological sites that we identified during Stages 1 to 3 assessment carried out in 1998 for Proctor & Redfern Ltd. This work was being conducted prior to improvements to Highway 7 between Georgetown and Acton. Four 19th century domestic sites associated with the former mill village of Silver Creek were identified and tested during the 1998 work. Two of these have been subsequently mitigated by Historic Horizon and are being reported separately. The other two sites have been mitigated by Mayer Heritage. The following report has been prepared by Historic Horizon Inc. for review by the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship, Culture and recreation (MczCR). The purpose of the report is to document the Stage 4 archaeological mitigation of the Silver Creek site located on the east side of Highway 7 / Trafalgar Road near the base of the Niagara Escarpment transverse. This site, identified in the assessment as Area 2, is located on the west half of Lot 25, concession 8, Esquesing township, an area coinciding with Highway 7 engineering segment 21 + 780 to 21 + 830. Fieldwork was conducted between July 13 and August 5, 1999 under archaeological license number 99-026, issued by MczCR to Heather Henderson of Historic Horizon Inc. The Silver Creek site was comprised largely of a 6.0 X 3.5 metre masonry house cellar which had been filled in by the 1890s. Occupied during the main occupation of the village of Silver Creek, it may have been built around 1850. A substantial and varied artifact assemblage revealed some of the lifeways of its occupants, but unfortunately, due to the complexity of the land and census records, and in the absence of a contemporary assessment roll, it has not been possible to define the series of occupants. The Miller House site was comprised mainly of two shallow structural footings and a well with the remnants of their associated soil deposits. Occupied first during the main occupation of the village of Silver Creek, and thought to have been the original general store and post office, the house was occupied through the 20th century by the Miller family, whose farm acreage was across the road on Lot 25, concession VII. A substantial and varied artifact assemblage revealed some of the lifeways of its occupants, although no evidence that could confirm the use of the site as a commercial enterprise was identified. A large portion of the site remains intact in the lawn of the house at 13181 Highway 7 adjoining on the east. 6.0 INTERPRETATION (SILVER CREEK SITE) The large masonry cellar pit excavated at the Silver Creek site appears to be the foundation of a house constructed by the mid- 19th century and demolished by approximately 1890-1900.... Examination of the land registration documents for Lot 25, Concession VIII suggests that this property may be the ( acre plot sold to Thomas Carberry by John Graham in 1856. It is not known if he lived in it at any time before it was sold to the local innkeepers in the 1860s. Between then and 1899, when it was re-integrated into the working Appleyard farm, this property would have been rented out to a series of tenants likely working in the local quarries, lime kilns or mills and the accumulated artifact assemblage (2857 objects) must be viewed as that of a series of working class tenant families.... The house appears to have been a well constructed wooden building, likely one of those itemized in the 1861 census as a 1.5 storey frame structure. The rubble revealed that it had plastered interior walls some of which were painted yellow. The bricks were handmade, perhaps locally, and may reflect a fireplace or chimney.... 6.0 INTERPRETATION (MILLER HOUSE SITE) Excavation of the Miller House site has revealed a well, the footings of two buildings, an extensive turn of the century midden and an artifact assemblage (5550 objects) reflecting the domestic occupation of the site from about 1850 to the 1920s. Unfortunately, the portion of the site excavated did not demonstrate any characteristics that might be expected of a general store or post office site. There was no clear increase in the variation of artifact, packaging or product types beyond what might be found at any domestic household of the time. Smoking pipe fragments, such as might be lost around the front porch while customers caught up on local news, were even less frequent than at the Silver Creek site house. The Miller house is known to have served as a store/post office for at least a decade and the portion of the property excavated within the highway right-of-way was extremely limited. It is possible that refuse deposits associated with the commercial period remain to be found just east of the right-of-way (on private property). In the Early Days by Colonel Laughlin Grant We pass John Miller, Dan Wright, Albert Appleyard, John Britton, Joseph Clark, J. Van Vlack, Eph. Graham and J. Dean, the toll gate keeper at the top of the hill. Then in the village the following businessmen: John Britton, stonecutter; Wm. Coulson, blacksmith; Geo. Crawford, saw mill owner; John Foreman, general storekeeper; Ephraim Graham, postmaster and general storekeeper; Jacob Kennedy, bailiff; John Moore, lime manufacturer; Geo, Murray, grist mill owner; Jas. Preston, proprietor Silver Creek Inn. There was also a distillery up where our reservoir is now located (good water for any purpose). The Methodists set up a church opposite the hotel. (Herald, June 18, 1924) ESQUESING HISTORICAL SOCIETY SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS Wed. 10 Sept. 2003 Glen Williams Cemetery Ramble - Join Archivist and Glen resident Mark Rowe as he leads a walking tour of the cemetery at Glen Williams. Perched on the edge of the Credit valley, it also offers a stunning view of the village. Refreshments will follow. Parking available at the Williams Mill. Note the early start time. GLEN WILLIAMS TOWN HALL, 1 Prince Street, 7:00 p.m. Wed. 8 Oct. 2003 Ranting and Raving at City Hall! - Where has the seat of local government been situated throughout the history of Georgetown? Join the Society as they explore the public buildings people of Georgetown and area have used since 1821! KNOX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, Georgetown, 7:30 p.m. Wed. 12 Nov. 2003 Hotels, Taverns and Inns of Georgetown - Where were the best rooms in town? Who had good stables and what were your wedding reception choices? Where was the best beer! Join the Society as we explore the hotels, taverns and inns of Georgetown. Different speakers, including Diane Hillock of the Station Hotel will share their research and stories. KNOX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, Georgetown, 7:30 p.m. December 2003 There will not be a regular meeting this month. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! ALL MEETINGS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AT NO CHARGE! Please bring your own cup for refreshments to help protect our environment. RESEARCH REQUESTS The EHS charges $5.00 for the initial fee, and $10.00 per hour. Each photocopied page will cost $1.00. When requests are received, an estimate will be provided before work begins. Postage and handling charges also apply. Requests can be made by e-mail or regular mail, but we cannot guarantee a delivery time. PHOTOGRAPH REPRINTS Besides the cost of printing a photo, an Archives user fee of $5 will apply for the first photo and a $2 fee for each subsequent photo, ordered at the same time. Postage and handling charges will also be applied. Orders require three weeks for processing. Society Notes EHS EXECUTIVE Stephen Blake 877-8251 President Karen Hunter 838-2109 Dawn Livingstone 877-6506 Sherry Westfahl 873-7145 J. Mark Rowe 877-9510 Carol Wood 873-0792 Marj Allen 877-9985 Judy Payne 877-7627 Don(t forget to add 905 when dialing the above listed numbers. ACHIVAL REPORT Our summer student was Leah Fagin. She continued the project of re-scanning our images to a TIF format and saving them on CD-ROMs. Leah also worked with Sherry Westfahl on the project to re-number the Archives to a modern standard. It was a productive summer which once again provided great benefits to the EHS Archives. INTERNET CONNECTIONS The Esquesing Historical Society has an official web site on the World Wide Web. You can visit us at Send your e-mail to rowem@aztec-net.com or dlvngstn@stn.net Canadian Council of Archives web site: EHS NEWSLETTER This newsletter was prepared by John Mark Rowe with assistance from Karen Hunter and Dawn Livingstone. Submissions are welcome. MEMBERSHIP Our paid 2003 memberships stand at 94. Please encourage friends and family to join the EHS and support our efforts to preserve and share our local history. The individual rate is $10. The family or institution rate is $12. Cheques payable to the Society can be mailed to our post box. Marj Allen, membership secretary, will gladly accept your fees at the next meeting. RESEARCH REQUESTS POLICY The EHS charges $5.00 for the initial fee, and $10.00 per hour. Each photocopied page will cost $1.00. When requests are received, an estimate will be provided before work begins. Postage and handling charges also apply. Requests can be made by e-mail or regular mail, but we cannot guarantee a delivery time. ACTON: THE HISTORY OF LEATHERTOWN The Freckled Lion and Wetherby(s are both carrying the book, but the bulk of sales come from The Olde Hide House, The Olde Book Shoppe and the Acton Leather Store in Toronto. The book sells for $24.95 from the EHS, which does not charge taxes. Retail stores, like The Olde Book House, must add the necessary taxes. Card carrying members of the EHS can buy as many copies as they wish at $20 each, directly from the Society. Books can be purchased at regular meetings or by contacting Publications Officer, Carol Wood. She can e-mailed at . VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! Please consider supporting your Society by offering time. Contact Stephen Blake, Karen Hunter or any executive member to offer your help. Absolutely no experience is needed. We have fun and learn while we go along. IMAGES HALTON The Halton Hills Public Library has launched Images Halton. The images of the EHS will be available here in connection with images of the other Halton areas, allowing a single search for all related Halton images. Visit the site at http://images.halinet.on.ca MILTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY They usually meet the third Thursday of each month at 8 p.m. at the Waldie Blacksmith Shop, 16 James Street, Milton. BRAMPTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY Meetings are held every third Thursday of the month at 7:15 p.m. at Heart Lake Presbyterian Church, 25 Ruth Avenue, Brampton. There is a $5 admission fee. September 18 Show and Tell by all Brampton Historical Society members October 16: Steve Pitt, Author ( Hurricane Hazel and the Aftermath( Saturday October 18 -9 AM Sally Drumond, Heritage Officer Town of Caledon, Bus Tour of Historic Caledon Visit: www.bramptonhistoricalsociety.com Buffy's Corner, the newsletter of the Brampton Historical Society - page 5 - Volume 5, Number 2 Heritage Headlines , Michael Avis, Heritage Liaison Committee Chair A Splash of Colour on the Heritage Canvas The Brampton Cemetery on Wilson Avenue could prove to be a busy spot on Brampton Day, September 20. The city cemetery, which contains the remains of numerous prominent former local residents, will again be a popular site on the Doors Open Brampton 2003 (Sept.20-21). This year the cemetery will feature not one, but two special events! Along with being a Doors Open Brampton site, the cemetery will see the official unveiling on Brampton Day of an Ontario Heritage Foundation plaque denoting the gravesite of John Wycliffe Forster (1850-1938) a local portrait painter (born in Norval) of international acclaim. His subjects were a who's who of Canadian politics including Sir John A McDonald, Egerton Ryerson, William Lyon Mackenzie and William Lyon Mackenzie King plus many local prominent Brampton residents. He had the opportunity to paint Queen Victoria, Their Imperial Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan and Alexander Graham Bell. Forster's works now hang in such places as the Royal Ontario Museum, the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, the Art Gallery of Ontario and the National Gallery of Canada. The Brampton Heritage Board thought it fitting for this sesquicentennial year that Forster receive the recognition he so richly deserves. Application was made to the Foundation who quickly endorsed the submission. Watch for details of the plaque unveiling. Everyone is welcome to participate, taking a moment to reflect on the life of one of our most gifted sons. ONTARIO GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY September 28: Rowena Cooper (From Brampton to Ontario( at Chinguacousy Branch Library, 150 central park Drive, Brampton. October 28: Jane MacNamara (Proving Family Relationships in Scotland: A Look at the Records.( at Oakville Public Library, 120 Navy Street. JUNE POTLUCK DELICIOUS! Many EHS members, their families, friends and the odd drop in, enjoyed a wonderful pot luck spread in June, followed by an interesting talk on Terra Cotta by Ted Von Zuben. The meeting was held in the Village Community Hall, the former Methodist Church. Ted displayed several examples of locally produced clay bricks and had a photograph display. THE SEAT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT! The following article contains excerpts from a series of articles written by Mark Rowe and published in The Georgetown Independent in April and May 1989. The ability of neighbours and taxpayers to gather together and discuss common concerns and solutions is a freedom which many Canadians forget was won after many battles, both verbal and physical. The symbol of our hard won rights stand in many communities today in the form of a town hall, community centre or civic centre. In a vibrant, healthy community, it is the heart of activity. To its citizens it represents every thing they hold dear about the community. To visitors it reflects the community pride and vitality. Many local examples stand as functioning testimony - Glen Williams Town Hall, Ballinafad Hall, Hornby Community Centre, Norval Community Hall, Limehouse Public School, Pinegrove Community Hall, and Speyside Public School. A community (hall( may double-up its functions and they certainly can change physically. Speyside is an example of the need to adapt the community needs to changing circumstances. Most important however, is the hall which serves as the seat of local government. Government means money and power. Over time the local government halls reflect that long concentration of power and money. If the government maintains a close relationship with its citizens, this is reflected in the nature of the (town hall( and its uses. In a series of articles, I will explore the history of (official( town halls serving the area now designated as Halton Hills. By studying the town halls, we will catch a glimpse of the community. STEWARTTOWN USED TO BE THE CENTRE OF THINGS Halton Hills is the fourth municipal corporation to take effect within the geographical township of Esquesing. Esquesing township, purchased from the native people, was opened to settlers in 1819. It was one township in a much larger district called Gore. It was the Gore District Council in Hamilton which decided political matters for Esquesing. However, it was possible to hold ratepayers meetings under warrant of two justices of the Peace. Esquesing township held the first meeting on 1 January 1821 at the home of Joseph Standish, being on Lot 13, Concession 6. The men appointed the first town clerk, James Frazer; an assessor, collector, two Wardens, and six pathmasters. They also petitioned for the appointment of a local magistrate since the nearest one was on the Lakeshore. It would be 16 years before the Lieutenant-Governor would act on this unsolicited interference. The minutes of the meeting also noted the township(s population at 424 persons.... Finally Council decided to rent an office and chambers from John Tracy across from the Township Hall. It was a frame one and one-half storey building on the north-west corner of Main and John Streets. Council first met here on 2 October 1879. A large sign above the door proclaimed it as Esquesing Council Chambers. Inside was the clerk(s office and a large vault for the Township(s papers. Esquesing had its first official office, rented premises though they were.... GEORGETOWN(S TOWN HALL BECOMES SYMBOL OF GROWING (VILLAGE( ...Fate intervened eight months later when early one Saturday morning the Georgetown Town Hall was consumed by fire. After collecting the $700 insurance money, events moved swiftly. Almost exactly eight months later, the final touch, the new bell was put into place. This handsome two-storey brick edifice with tall bell tower stood at the corner of Guelph and Cross Streets, almost directly across from its predecessor. Civic pride in the new facility blossomed. It became the undisputed centre of municipal life in Georgetown. The fledgling fire brigade, organized in November 1871, now grew in size and strength. The disbanded Mechanics Institute was reorganized in 1880 as the local library and set up in the Hall. The constable had a real( jail and office, as did the Clerk of the village. But it was the evening activities which demonstrated how a Town Hall is the heart and soul of a community. The political meetings, demonstrations, the readings, speeches, band practices, dramatics, and especially the minstrel shows! When electricity came to Georgetown in 1891, the first street lamp( was hung outside of the Hall and the hydro was controlled from the building.... ACTONIANS SAVE THEIR HISTORIC HALL ...When regional government took over on 1 January 1974, the council chambers fell silent. The Hall which had represented Acton since 1883, was now redundant. It was slated for demolition, the site to serve as a parking lot for firefighters. The 1977 Ontario Heritage Foundation designation of the Acton Town Hall as historic did little to impress the Town of Halton Hills. But ir gave a citizen(s group a focal point to rally around. They began to raise funds to restore the Hall, funds which would be complimented by Heritage Foundation grants. Finally in 1983, Heritage Acton, the citizen(s group, purchased the property for $1 and set about its restoration. The campaign to raise funds for the restoration of the Acton Town Hall excited the people of Acton. Just as the old Town Hall had once reflected the vitality of the Town, the campaign to restore it did the same. Although a far-off municipal government had abandoned a useless building, its ratepayers were not ready to cast off a building whose history represented their Town(s and therefore their own life stories. It was a heroic effort and the results stand proudly on Willow Street. The restored lower storey once again serves the community while plans proceed with second floor restorations. The Town of Halton Hills have now acknowledged the importance of the Acton Town Hall by designating it themselves for historical and architectural reasons. In December 1988, it was cited as being architecturally, a good example of the monumental style in late 19th century public buildings. But more importantly the historic reason for designation was - it was the Town Hall! Nicholas Smith Family Glen Williams Cemetery Walk - Sept 2003 One hundred and fifty five years ago, one of the earliest burials in the Glen Cemetery was Sarah Jane Smith, the twelve year old daughter of Jack Livingstone(s great great grandparents, who lived in Glen Williams. In fact, three of the families eight children are buried here, along with their parents, all having died under the age of 12. Nicholas Smith and his wife Susannah had come to Canada from Ireland, and settled in Williamsburg by 1840, and all of their eight children were born in Halton County. Nicholas was early listed as a (stoker( and may have worked at one of the local mills. However, later in life he was known and listed as a plasterer, and he and his oldest son George were listed as (Nicholas Smith and Son, Plasterers, Glen Williams( and were advertising their work as such. In fact, the late Jack Watson was sure that they were involved in the interior plastering of some local area churches. Late in his life, in 1871, Nicholas Smith purchased a piece of property in the village, from Charles Williams and his wife Mary Jane. The indenture for this property is interesting to read, being measure in (perches.( The property is now a lovely grey frame fenced home directly across the road from St. Alban(s church. For this piece of property, Nicholas Smith paid (one hundred dollars of lawful money of Canada.( By the time he was able to afford to purchase the property, Nicholas and Susannah were in their late 60's, with no children living at home, and in less than ten years, at the age of 78, Nicholas too was buried along with his children high atop the hill in Glen Williams. Less than four months after his death, his wife sold the property to a James Thompson, receiving $100. cash, and holding a mortgage for the remaining $200.00. One of Nicholas and Susannah(s daughters, Eliza, had married Latham Travers Stull, and another, Ruth Ann Smith had married Christopher Sparling of Georgetown. The very old stones for this Smith family are found in the centre area of the cemetery, although one has the top portion broken off. Dawn Livingstone, For Glen Williams Cemetery Walk, September 2003. Esquesing Historical Society Newsletter 1