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Upper Canada Sketches

<hr class="full" /> <ANTIMG src="images/cover.jpg" height-obs="550" alt="[Image of the book's cover unavailable.]" /> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="" style="border: 2px black solid;margin:auto auto;max-width:50%; padding:1%;"> <tr><td> Contents. Illustrations and Portraits (In certain versions of this etext [in certain browsers] clicking on the image will bring up a larger version.) (etext transcriber's note) </td></tr> </table> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/ill_001.jpg" width-obs="600" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /> <div class="caption">MILL IN DEVON, ENG., IN 1897. USED AND OWNED BY ROGER CONANT PREVIOUS TO SAILING TO AMERICA WITH THE PILGRIMS IN 1623. BARCLAY, CLARK & CO. LITHO. TORONTO </div> </div> <h1>Upper Canada Sketches</h1> BY THOMAS CONANT With Illustrations, Portraits and Map TORONTO WILLIAM BRIGGS 29-33 Richmond St. West 1898 <div class="blockquot">Entered according to Act of the Parliament of Canada, in the year one thousand eight hundred and ninety-eight, by Thomas Conant, at the Department of Agriculture. </div> To Thomas G. Milsted Of Chicago, Ill., U.S. A LARGE-HEARTED, FAITHFUL FRIEND AND PLEASANT COMPANION, UNDER EVEN THE MOST TRYING CIRCUMSTANCES; WHO SWAM IN THE DEAD SEA, ASCENDED THE NILE TO THE MAHDI’S CONFINES, AND LIKEWISE WITH ME KICKED PARIAH DOGS FROM OUR PATHS IN CONSTANTINOPLE, THIS VOLUME IS DEDICATED, WITH FULL RELIANCE IN THE HOPE THAT EXPATRIATED CANADIANS, WHO ARE SO VERY NUMEROUS IN THE UNITED STATES, MAY ENJOY WITH HIMSELF (LIKEWISE ONE OF THEM) THESE RANDOM CANADIAN SKETCHES. THE AUTHOR. {i} <h2>CONTENTS.</h2> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin:1em auto 1em auto;max-width:85%;"> <tr><td> </td><td class="rt">PAGE</td></tr> <tr><td>Prefatory Note</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">vii</td></tr> <tr><th colspan="2">CHAPTER I.</th></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="pdd">Normandy—William the Conqueror—Origin of the name Conant—Devon, England—Sir Walter Raleigh’s home—Richard the Mill-owner—Roger the Pilgrim—The first Governor of Massachusetts—Salem, Massachusetts—Mill-owners</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">9</td></tr> <tr><th colspan="2">CHAPTER II.</th></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="pdd">The American Revolution—Personal Rule of King George III.—Washington’s politeness—Valley Forge—Washington’s prayer—Raw New England levies—John Hancock—Other leaders and generals—Colonel Butler—Murder, not war—Roger Conant removes to Canada—An old deed—Governor Simcoe—York (Toronto)</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">21</td></tr> <tr><th colspan="2">CHAPTER III.</th></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="pdd">A home in the wilderness—Salmon fishing—An idyllic life—Logging—Fur trade—Durham boats—Rapids of the St. Lawrence—Trading with the Indians—The Hudson’s Bay Company—Coureurs du bois—Maple sugar {ii}making—Friendly Indians</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">32</td></tr> <tr><th colspan="2">CHAPTER IV.</th></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="pdd">Waubakosh—Making potash—Prosperous settlers—Outbreak of war of 1812—Transporting military supplies—Moode Farewell’s hotel—“Here’s to a long and moderate war”—A lieutenant’s misfortune—“Open in the King’s name”—Humors of the time—Ingenious foragers—Hidden specie—Hardships of the U. E. Loyalists</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">40</td></tr> <tr><th colspan="2">CHAPTER V.</th></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="pdd">Capture of York—Immigration increasing—David Annis—Niagara—Prosperous lumber business—Ship-building—High freight rates—Salmon spearing—Meteoric showers—An affrighted clergyman—Cold winters—A tragedy of the clearings</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">51</td></tr> <tr><th colspan="2">CHAPTER VI.</th></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="pdd">Discontent in Upper Canada—Election riots—Shillelahs as persuaders—William Lyon Mackenzie—Rioting in York—Rebellion—Patriots and sympathizers—A relentless chase—Crossing Lake Ontario in midwinter—A perilous passage—A sailor hero—A critical moment—Safe on shore—“Rebellion Losses Bill”—Transported to Botany Bay—Murder of my grandfather—Canadian legends—A mysterious guest</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">65</td></tr> <tr><th colspan="2">CHAPTER VII.</th></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="pdd">Religious movements—Itinerant preachers—$50 a year—Camp-meetings—Weird scenes at night—Millerites—World coming to an end—Dissenters attempt to fly—Affrighted by a “sun-dog”—Destruction fails to materialize—The Mormons—An improvised Gabriel—Raising the dead—Converts—Salt Lake—An Irish {iii}refugee and his poem</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">89</td></tr> <tr><th colspan="2">CHAPTER VIII.</th></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="pdd">Canadian laws—Cases of justifiable homicide—Ineffectual attempt to discipline a church member—Major Wilmot—Asa Wallbridge—“Uncle Ned”—Cows and matrimony—A humorous dialogue—A witty retort—An amusing duel</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">102</td></tr> <tr><th colspan="2">CHAPTER IX.</th></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="pdd">Paring bees—Mirth and jollity—Dancing and games—Playing “forfeits”—Anti-Slavery Act—Canada’s proud distinction—Refugee slaves—“Uncle Tom”—Old Jeff—Story of a slave</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">120</td></tr> <tr><th colspan="2">CHAPTER X.</th></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="pdd">Civil war in the United States—Large bounties paid Canadian recruits—Prices of products go up—More than two million men under arms—I make a trip to Washington—Visiting the military hospitals—I am offered $800 to enlist—Brief interview with President Lincoln—A pass secured—I visit the Army of the Potomac—90,000 men under canvas—Washington threatened by the Confederates—Military prison at Elmira, N.Y.—Cheap greenbacks—A chance to become a multi-millionaire</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">137</td></tr> <tr><th colspan="2">CHAPTER XI.</th></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="pdd">The “Trent affair”—Excitement in Canada—Bombastic “fire-eaters”—Thriving banks—High rates of interest—Railway building—The bonus system—A sequestered hamlet—A “psychologist” and his entertainment—A mock duel—A tragic page of family history</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">153</td></tr> <tr><th colspan="2">CHAPTER XII.</th></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="pdd">Fenianism—A claimant for my father’s farm—A scare at {iv}Port Oshawa—Guns, forks and clubs for fighting—Awkward squad—Guard catch a young man out courting—The Fenian raid of 1866—A Catholic priest taken prisoner—United States Government at last cries “Stop!”—Adventure in high life—A youth runs away from home—Tragic death of the mother of the runaway—Marries the serving-maid—Wedding and funeral journey in one</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">171</td></tr> <tr><th colspan="2">CHAPTER XIII.</th></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="pdd">The French in Upper Canada—Sir Wilfrid Laurier—Voyageurs and their songs—“A la Claire Fontaine”—Money-lenders—Educational matters—Expatriated Canadians—Successful railway speculation—A shrewd banker</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">181</td></tr> <tr><th colspan="2">CHAPTER XIV.</th></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="pdd">Poor-tax—Poor-houses undesirable—The tramp nuisance—A tramp’s story—Mistaken charity—Office seekers—Election incidents</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">193</td></tr> <tr><th colspan="2">CHAPTER XV.</th></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="pdd">Upper Canada’s favored situation—Our Great Lakes—Cases of apparent tides on Lake Ontario—Canadians as givers—Oshawa’s generous support to churches and charities—Life insurance—Amusing incidents of a railway journey—A “talking machine”</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">209</td></tr> <tr><th colspan="2">CHAPTER XVI.</th></tr> <tr><td valign="top" class="pdd">Drinking habits in the early days—Distilleries and mills—Treating prevalent—Drinking carousals—Delirium tremens—“One-Thousand-and-One” Society—Two gallon limit—Bibulous landlords—Whiskey fights—Typical Canadian pioneers—Clearing the farm—Sons and daughters married—Peaceful old age—Asleep in death—Conclusion</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">228</td></tr> </table> {v} <h2>ILLUSTRATIONS AND PORTRAITS.</h2> <table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" summary=""> <tr><td> </td><td class="rt">PAGE</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">Roger Conant’s Mill, Devon, England</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">Frontispiece</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">Thomas Conant</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">6</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">Mrs. Thomas Conant</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">7</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">Map of Upper Canada (Ontario)</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">9</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">Roger Conant’s house, Salem, Mass.</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">18</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">Roger Conant’s first settlement in Upper Canada</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">33</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">Typical Logging Scene</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">40</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">Durham boats ascending River St. Lawrence</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">48</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">David Annis</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">52</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">Indian trading scene</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">65</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">Maple sugar making</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">78</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">Indian wigwams of birch bark</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">84</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">Potash making—the “melting”</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">97</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">Hauling cannon in the war of 1812</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">104</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">Moode Farewell’s tavern</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">122</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">Daniel Conant’s lumber mill</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">135</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">Meteoric shower (1833)</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">144</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">Daniel Conant</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">152</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">Mary Eliza Conant</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">153</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">Loading lumber on schooners, Lake Ontario</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">160</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">Refugees escaping over the ice at Oswego, N.Y. (1837)</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">172</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">Crossing Lake Ontario in a canoe</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">186</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">Assassination of Thomas Conant (1838)</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">193</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">Camp-meeting scene</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">209</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">A Millerite’s attempt to fly</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">220</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">Mormon attempt to raise the dead</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">228</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">Awkward squad—Fenian raid, 1865</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom">236</td></tr> </table> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/ill_002.jpg" height-obs="550" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /> <div class="caption">THOMAS CONANT. BARCLAY, CLARK & CO. LITHO. TORONTO </div> </div> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/ill_003.jpg" height-obs="550" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /> <div class="caption">MRS. THOMAS CONANT. </div> </div> {vi}  {vii}  <h2>PREFATORY NOTE.</h2> IN presenting to the public these random sketches I crave the reader’s indulgence. I do not pretend to elegance of style in my writing, and if—as is doubtless the case—the canons of literary form are occasionally offended against in these pages, I ask the kindly consideration of the critics. If asked my reasons for publishing the volume, I would state: First, the many communications received by me from time to time, from various sources, commenting favorably on my letters to the press, have given me to believe that the Canadian public appreciate and value the relation of old settlers’ stories and the legends and traditions of the past; again, as a son of this noble Province, a descendant of one of its pioneer families, having witnessed much of the marvellous development of the country, I feel constrained to thus preserve records which I believe are historically valuable. I have sought to present glimpses of the rude, free life that obtained in the{viii} earlier years of settlement, while at the same time depicting some phases of life in Canada as seen at the present day. Though since Confederation (1867) our Province has been known as Ontario, I have preferred to use the old name of Upper Canada, which seems not improper in view of the fact that much of the matter herein given relates to pre-Confederation times. It has been my endeavor, in compiling these sketches, to avoid wounding the feelings of others in my references to the living or their friends who have passed away. If, unfortunately, I have done so, I ask the pardon of such persons, and assure them that wherever I have used names or made personal references, I have done so only where I considered it necessary to render the events chronicled historically correct. For the insertion of some family portraits it is unnecessary to ask the reader’s indulgence, as they are portraits of those who have helped materially in the upbuilding of the Province. Thomas Conant. Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, September 28th, 1898. {x}{ix} <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/ill_004.jpg" width-obs="1200" height-obs="819" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /> <div class="caption">MAP OF UPPER CANADA 1898 </div> </div> {9} <h2>UPPER CANADA SKETCHES.</h2> <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

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