Finding Mississauga in the Maritimes - Chapter 2
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Intersection of Jarvis and Thompson streets, Erindale Village
For those who have read this article series over the years, you know that I love to find Mississauga connections, even obscure ones, when I travel. Following up on last week’s article, this week’s edition will continue to explore some of the connections to home that I found during our recent family trip to the Maritimes.
One of the places we stopped at along our journey was in Kingsclear, New Brunswick, which is a short distance from Fredericton. I had not realized prior to our arrival that our accommodations were in Kingsclear, so I had not read much in advance about the history of the area – which is something I love to do. Amidst some sporadic Wi-Fi connections, I was wracking my brain about the name of Kingsclear. Somewhere in the foggy cobwebs of my distant memory, the name rang a bell. But what was it? I sent a message to my colleague back in Mississauga to no avail. So, I pondered some more. Somewhere in darkening evening, I remembered a tidbit!
Old Burial Ground, Fredericton
Many of historic Mississauga’s early colonial era settlers were, at one point, in New Brunswick. Lewis Bradley, of the Bradley Museum in Clarkson fame, married Elizabeth Merigold. Elizabeth was born in Kingsclear. She was the daughter of Thomas Merigold Sr. (1761-1827) and Elizabeth Ansley (1765-1847). Her parents had resettled in New Brunswick as Loyalists after the American Revolution. The Merigold family included children Susan Isabella (1786-1863), Thomas Jr. (1791-1871), Mary (1791-1884), Elizabeth (1793-1863), Daniel (1795-1863), Philip Amos (1797-1868), Frances (1799-1836), Duncan (1802-1804), William (1808-1886) and Charles (1811-1884). Most of the Merigold children were born in Kingsclear. The Merigold family’s New Brunswick neighbours in Kingsclear included others you may know as well, such as the Jarvis and Thompson families, amongst many others.
The Loyalists settled along the Saint John River in the Spring of 1784. Many of those who settled in Kingsclear had found themselves on the side of The Crown during the Revolution and were veterans of the New Jersey Volunteers, including Thomas Merigold Sr. and Cornelius Thompson.
In the Spring of 1808, Cornelius Thompson and Stephen Jarvis made the long trek to Upper Canada (Ontario) from New Brunswick. Once in York (Toronto), they petitioned for land. They then set out on the long journey back to New Brunswick to gather their families for the arduous road to their new home in historic Mississauga.
Daniel Merigold gravestone, Springcreek Cemetery, Clarkson
In July of 1808 five families set out – Thomas Merigold with his wife and 10 children; the newly married Lewis Bradley and Elizabeth Merigold; Jonas Allen with his wife and 4 children; and Frederick Fox and his wife. They were armed with a letter of recommendation from Jonathan Sewell, the Solicitor-General “… recommending them in the strongest terms for skill as farmers, for honesty as men, and above all for loyalty as subjects …”
Thomas Merigold Sr. formally received his land grant in what is now the Clarkson area of Mississauga, along the shores of Lake Ontario, on September 7, 1808 – an area that would later be referred to as “Merigold’s Point”.
George Duncan Ludlow gravestone, Old Burial Ground, Fredericton
Stephen Jarvis left New Brunswick on June 30, 1809, and arrived in York (Toronto) on August 28. Stephen’s son, Frederick Starr Jarvis, married Susan Merigold. Likely travelling with the Jarvis family was Cornelius Thompson, his wife Rebecca, and their seven children, including eldest son William Thompson. Travelling with them was also John Jenkins and his family, whom we know little about.
Many members of these early settling families served with the 2nd York militia during the War of 1812, including Cornelius’ four sons: William (1786-1860), Augustine (1788-?), Frederick (1790-?) and Cornelius Oliver (1797-1813). The youngest son died of illness during the war. The oldest son William served as a Captain, and in the years after the war rose to the rank of Colonel with the militia. In 1844 William became a member of Toronto Township’s first council and served as the first elected Reeve (Mayor) of historic Mississauga in 1851. All the Thompson boys were born in Kingsclear.
Wright family gravestones, Old Burial Ground, Fredericton
Given the move from New Brunswick took place over 200 years ago, there is understandably very little evidence of their time along the banks of the Saint John River in Kingsclear. While wandering and wondering about Kingsclear, I visited a few historic cemeteries, and eventually I found my way to the Old Burial Ground in Fredericton - and it is truly a fascinating place! This historic cemetery was established in 1784, and many of the Kingsclear families are buried here, albeit not members from the families who emigrated to Ontario from what I was able to discern. One of the more notable Kingsclear links in this cemetery was that of the Ludlow family and specifically George Duncan Ludlow – George purchased Thomas Merigold’s farm in Kingsclear when the family headed out for historic Mississauga in the summer of 1808. Another link was Robert and Mary Vail – their daughter Margaret married Thomas Merigold’s son Daniel. Daniel and Margaret are buried in Springcreek Cemetery in Clarkson – along with many others who were born in Kingsclear. Another Merigold son, Charles, married Jane Wright – Jane’s parents are likely Matilda and Thomas Wright who are also buried in the Old Burial Ground in Fredericton amongst their Kingsclear neighbours.
Lewis Bradley gravestone, Springcreek Cemetery, Clarkson
And back to the Jarvis and Thompson linkages – Jarvis Street and Thompson Street in Erindale Village here in Mississauga are named for Frederick Starr Jarvis and William Thompson respectively – both of whom were born in New Brunswick.
