Thomas Street in Streetsville is not named for a son of Timothy Street, or for any member of the Street family. The road takes its name from one Thomas Paterson (1820-1860).

Thomas was the eldest son of the self-styled “Laird of Bonnie Braes”, James Paterson. James Paterson (1793-1874) settled near Streetsville around 1820. Bonnie Braes was the name he gave to his property – where the Vista Heights subdivision is today.

James Paterson, Thomas’ father, was born near Kelso, Roxburghshire, Scotland and was married to Jane Pigge (1798-1849). James and Jane came to Canada in 1820 via New York. The Paterson family are noted to have raised Ayrshire cattle on their farm. James and Jane had 10 children: Mary (1819-1871), Thomas (1820-1860 – after whom Thomas Street was named), Hannah (1824-1856), Margaret (1825-1885), William (1829-1854), Andrew (1830-1899), James Jr. (1830-1873), Charles (1834-1846), John (1839-1884) and Heber (1842-?).

James was quite successful and became a significant landowner in the Streetsville area. He even sponsored and helped to organize the local militia. In 1832 he was listed as the Captain in the 2nd Regiment of the West York Militia. James was very active in the community: he served as an elder in St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church (1832-1847), President of the Streetsville Plank Road Company, President of the Agriculture Association of Upper Canada (1859); and served as a School Trustee (1858-1861). He also served as Justice of the Peace in Streetsville. James Paterson, the Laird of Bonnie Braes, died in 1874, and while it is not known for certain where he is buried, it is thought that he was likely buried in the Streetsville Memorial Cemetery, alongside his wife and several children. Sadly, James outlived many of his children.

Thomas Paterson, the namesake of Thomas Street, became a hardware merchant in Streetsville. Like his father, Thomas was active in the local militia and attained the rank of Captain in 1854. In 1858 Thomas served on the first municipal council for Streetsville. He was also active in the Presbyterian Church and with the Mechanics’ Institute. In 1848 Thomas married Agnes Savigny (1819-1898). Agnes and Thomas Paterson had six children: Agnes Jane (1849-1899), James Horatio (1851-1856), John Hope (1853-1915), Hugh Savigny (1855-1936), Thomas Fyfe (1856-1857) and Mary Elizabeth (1858-1865).

Thomas passed away in 1860 at the young age of 40 years old. His cause of death is unknown. It is thought that Thomas was buried in the Streetsville Memorial Cemetery, although there is no surviving gravestone or burial record. The Memorial Cemetery was closed in 1890, and when Thomas’ wife Agnes passed away in 1898, she was buried in the newly opened Streetsville Public Cemetery. A gravestone at Agnes’ grave lists her husband’s name, but he is likely buried in the older cemetery.

While we do not have a picture of Thomas Paterson himself, the house Thomas built in 1847 in anticipation of his marriage to Agnes still stands at 13 Thomas Street. And, of course, the road still carries his name today, as it has done since at least the Streetsville survey of 1856.

Streetsville has fascinating stories to explore. Heritage Mississauga is excited to bring back our 21st annual Haunted Mississauga heritage tour on Saturday, October 22, 2022 at Streetsville Memorial Cemetery. Guests will take part in a guided tour with in-person actors portraying people and times from Streetsville’s past. One of the people portrayed in this year’s tour will be James Paterson, Thomas’ father. The tour is a fun, informative and interactive evening. Tours begin at 7 pm and each tour last approximately 45 minutes. Space is limited. Tickets are available at: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/haunted-mississauga-heritage-tour-tickets-433102750987