Death and Illness in the New Community

Death and Illness in the New Community

We often wonder what illnesses affected our ancestors and caused their death. Although Rev. Bell was careful to record marriages and baptisms during the early years, he did not record all deaths. He, and other diarists of the time, would mention the name of someone who died in passing. For the early settlement years our most source is found on memorial stone in cemeteries of the area. An these records can sometimes be misleading as they were...

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Travel Challenges in the New Settlement

Travel Challenges in the New Settlement

The Final Letter to a Scottish Newspaper (XXIV) Before leaving Scotland Rev. William Bell agreed to provide reports back to a Scottish newspaper. The editors wished to assist in the recruitment of people to settle in Upper Canada. It is evident that, while fulfilling the commitment to provide information to entice settlers, he reported both the opportunities and challenges of the emerging community. However, he often glossed over the challenges...

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Early Days in Perth and on the Scotch Line

Early Days in Perth and on the Scotch Line

William Bell’s Comments in his Diary “The County of Carleton, in which the military settlements are situated, did not, till 1816, receive any settlers except a few in the township of Nepean, but so rapidly has its population since that time increased, that in 1823 it contains about 8,000. At present, it may be viewed as an inland place, but it is watered by several fine rivers which fall into the Ottawa. These, by a little...

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The New Settlement and Its Troubles

The New Settlement and Its Troubles

Rev. Bell provides this history of settlement in Perth, a military settlement in Upper Canada and hints on where to search for ancestors. Early image of Perth The Distribution of Land in the New Settlement “Before I proceed further, let me tell you something about the division of the land. A township or parish is generally about 10 miles square, it is divided by lines into 12 parts or concessions, and each lot containing 200 acres, except...

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