Research and Stories
This is a place where I can share some of my research pertaining to early settlement and family histories intertwined with the story of Lanark County, Ontario, Canada. I’ve been researching and writing for many years and want to make some of my work more widely available.
This blog was originally designed to share my artwork and creative activities during the years when I was exhibiting widely. My art has now taken second place to refining and publishing some of my research, but I have left the art posts available for perusal.
Whatever your interest might be, enjoy, and provide feedback if you can.
Diane
Posted by Diane Duncan on December 24, 2021 in Blog Posts, Community & Family History, Featured Flag | 0 comments
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 improvement, will render navigable for boats by which a communication may be carried on with Montreal at a...
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Posted by Diane Duncan on December 23, 2021 in Blog Posts, Community & Family History, Featured Flag | 0 comments
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 the last, which contains 100. Every seventh lot is set apart for the support of the church and is...
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Posted by Diane Duncan on December 22, 2021 in Blog Posts, Community & Family History, Featured Flag | 0 comments
The Reputation of John Holliday The following insights were gleaned from Rev. William Bell’s Journals and from John Holliday: A Forthright Man, Clarence Halliday, Cobourg, November, 1962. John Holliday was officially recognized as the schoolmaster promised to the settlers before leaving Scotland and was officially granted an annual salary of L50. He sailed with the settlers. Rev. William Bell and John Holliday had many disagreements with Rev. William Bell penning the following comment: “Some of (the Scotch Settlers) were of a very...
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Posted by Diane Duncan on December 22, 2021 in Blog Posts, Community & Family History, Featured Flag | 0 comments
In this article, designed to provide information to the prospective immigrant, Dr. Bell addresses the physical environment of the new community. In many ways, the flora and fauna around Perth has changed only a little. Wherever cultivated crops are grown, the battle between the farmer and insects, birds and wildlife continue. Although the trees and wild fruit were similar, European varieties had been cultivated for generations and the quality and size of produce differed. Many of the immigrants were labourers, weavers and wage earners before...
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Posted by Diane Duncan on December 21, 2021 in Blog Posts, Community & Family History, Featured Flag | 0 comments
Perth on the River Tay in 1828, Archives of Ontario Rev. Bell’s First Impressions Rev. William Bell’s diary helps us to visualize and understand the community our ancestors called home when they settled in Upper Canada. Writing about his arrival and first impressions of the military depot of Perth, he notes: “Perth is pleasantly situated on the banks of the Tay, formerly called Pike River. The length of the town is 7/8 of a mile, the breadth, somewhat less. The streets are regularly laid out, and cross each other at right...
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Posted by Diane Duncan on December 20, 2021 in Blog Posts, Community & Family History, Featured Flag | 0 comments
In his letters to Scotland Rev. William Bell provides additional details about the 1815 settlers who arrived in Perth in the spring of 1816 as the village was emerging from the forest. To reach Perth in March 1816 the settlers had to cut a path for the wagons carrying their luggage The Sponsored Settlers of 1815 ” In the year 1814, the attention of His Majesty’s government having been called to the tide of emigration, at the time flowing from Great Britain to the United States, the following plan was adopted to direct it to...
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