Vaughan Township Residents from A History of Toronto and County of York

James Adams, lot 26, concession 7, is a native of Ireland, having been born in County Tyrone in the year 1807. He emigrated to Canada in 1832, and immediately purchased the one hundred acres of land where he now lives. The country around him was then quite wild and he had very few neighbours. He was a member of the first Township Council. Mr. Adams was married in the year 1834 to Sarah Irwin, the issue of the union being seven children. He has one son, Mr. William Adams, in Toronto. He belongs to the Presbyterian Church, and his political views are in accordance with those of the Conservative Party. (vol. II, p. 329)

William Basingtwait, lot 22, concession 2, was born in the County of Norfolk, England, in the year 1816. He came to Canada in company with his parents and the other members of the family in the year 1832. They came first to York County, but shortly afterwards moved into Ontario County, where the father purchased a farm in Reach Township, on which he lived until his death. In 1843 our subject settled in the Township of Vaughan on the farm still occupied by him, which, when he first located there, was complete bush; neither were there churches, schools or roads. Mr Basingtwait, in addition to farming his land, is much interested in bee-culture, having no less than thirty-five hives, which are very productive and yield a profitable return. He was married in the year 1835 to Mrs. Margaret Atkinson; they have a family of six children living. He belongs to the Methodist Church, and is in political opinions a Reformer. (vol. II, p. 329)

William Bolter, lot 29, concession 7, is a native of Suffolk, England. He was born in 1815, and emigrated to Canada in 1859 accompanied by his wife and two sons. He came direct to Toronto, where he remained two years, being at the end of that period employed by Mr. Philip Armstrong, on Yonge Street. He worked for that gentleman about nine years, and then rented a farm on concession 3 of York Township, which he only occupied about one year. He then rented the farm where he now resides. He was married about six years previously to his departure from England, his wife’s maiden name being Louisa King; they have a family of two sons and four daughters. He belongs to the Episcopal Church. (vol. II, p. 330)

Anthony Bowes, lot 3, concession 2, was born in the Township fo Vaughan, on the farm where he still lives. He is the youngest son of the late Anthony Bowes, and was born in the year 1835. Mr. Bowes, sen’r, emigrated from Yorkshire, England, accompanied by his wife and family, and settled upon the above-mentioned farm. He continued to cultivate his land for many years, and having had a moderate share of success he retired in favour of his son and went to live in Toronto. He remained there three or four years and then returned to Thornhill, where he died in the year 1870. Mr. Anthony Bowes married in 1857 Catharine Gillivray, of Scotch parentage, being a daughter of Mr. John Gillivray; they had a family of eleven children, all living but one. He is a member of the Methodist Church, and a Conservative in politics. (vol. II, p. 330)

William Bowes, lot 7, concession 2, was born in England in the year 1818, and in company with his parents and other members of the family – three brothers and two sisters – came to Canada in 1831. They landed at Quebec, the journey from there to Montreal being made by steamboat. From the latter city to Brockville they journeyed by Durham boats, and the remainder of the trip to little York by schooner. His father was the late Anthony Bowes, mentioned in another sketch, he being the eldest son of the family. Mr. Bowes bears testimony to the extreme badness of the roads in the early days of the settlement, although he admits the existence of one of the prime elements of civilization, to wit, an old log school-house. During the Rebellion of 1837 he was a member of Captain Gapper’s troop, and served during that time. Mr. Bowes married in 1844 Ann Maxwell, by whom he had ten children, seven only of whom are living. He belongs to the Methodist Church, and in politics is a Reformer. The day the fight took place at Montgomery’s Tavern, Mr. Bowes was engaged at his father’s farm on lot 3, concession 2 of King, butchering hogs. While they were so employed six of the Rebels rode up on horseback and demanded that our subject and his companion should go with them and swell the force under Mackenzie’s command, but they refused to comply. The Rebels shortly afterwards went away, leaving word that they would return and should then expect their wishes to be respected. This threat was no vain one, at least so far as their return was concerned; but for making unwilling men go where they had no desire was another matter. They put up their horses, “blackmailed” for food and then commenced to threaten what would happen unless he went with them. Happily perhaps for all parties, before violence would be used, the Rebels, by some unexplained means, became aware of the defeat of Mackenzie on Yonge Street, and at once mounting their horses galloped away. The horses were afterwards found straying; they belonged to people around Eglington, and one, a very valuable mare, was owned by Sheriff Jarvis. (vol. II, p. 330)

Joseph Brown, lot 3, concession 5, was born in Vaughan Township on lot 2, concession 5. His father was the late James Brown, mentioned elsewhere. Joseph was the fifth son in order in his father’s family. He has been twice married, first in the year 1844, to Catharine Burkholder, by whom he had a family of nine children, most of whom are dead. His second marriage took place in 1881 to Miss Troyer. He is an adherent of the Methodist Church, and is a Conservative in politics. His son Henry now occupies his farm, lot 3, concession 6, and is the only son living; two daughters are living, Susannah and Catharine, the latter being married to Jacob Quartz. (vol. II, p. 331)

Richard Brown, lot 2, concession 5, was born on the lot where he now resides in the year 1822. His father, the late James Brown, was among the first batch of settlers in Vaughan, having emigrated some years before the War of 1812. He was a man much esteemed by his neighbours, and was ever ready to bring his experience to bear in assisting new settlers in their difficulties. He was a Mennonite in religion, but afterwards joined the Methodist Church. Richard married in the year 1843. His wife’s maiden name was Rebecca Burkholder, who was born in Vaughan Township, being a daughter of the late William Burkholder, who was a soldier during the War of 1812. They have a family of nine children living, and two dead. He is an adherent of the Methodist Church, and a Conservative in politics. (vol. II, p. 331)

James Bryson, lot 30, concession 6, was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in the year 1794. He learned the trade of a machinist in Glasgow, at which business he worked about eighteen years. In 1832 he emigrated to Canada, and shortly afterwards settled in Vaughan. He married in 1835 Jane McCallum, daughter of the late Donald McCallum, who had charge of the post-office in concession 6 of King Township. They had a family of one son and seven daughters; the daughters are all married and reside in different parts of the county, the son living with his father on the farm. His wife died October 31, 1882. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and has always been a Reformer in politics. (vol. II, p. 332)

Joseph Burkholder, lot 3, concession 4, Edgely Post-office, is the youngest son of the late William Burkholder. His father was a native of the State of Maryland, and was ten years of age when he came to Canada with his parents. During the War of 1812 he was captain of a company in the militia. He moved on to the farm now occupied by his son Joseph in the beginning of 1816, and continued there until his death in 1869. At the time of the Rebellion of 1837, Mr. Burkholder’s impulsive yet withal generous nature was somewhat imposed upon as the following incident will show. He became security for the appearance of a number of Rebels, but they, either through fear of the consequences, or from other motives, were not forthcoming when wanted, which had the effect of placing Mr. Burkholder in a somewhat difficult position. He, however, came through his trouble all right, the authorities possibly concluding that no blame could be attached to him. Joseph Burkholder was born on the old homestead. He was married in 1852 to Miss Hannah Koake, daughter of Adam Koake, late of Etobicoke Township. They have a family of nine children living, two being dead. Mr. Burkholder is a Presbyterian, but his family attend the Methodist Church. He is a Conservative in politics. The farm which he owns was originally purchased from the Clergy Reserve. (vol. II, p. 332)

Robert Burton, lot 13, concession 9, was born in the year 1852 on the lot which he now owns and cultivates. He is the youngest son of the late Henry Burton, who was one of the earliest settlers in this part of Vaughan, and was a man well known in the neighbourhood. Mr. Burton, sen’r, was originally from Scotland, and on emigrating to Canada settled first in little York, removing to Vaughan in the year 1834, where he resided until his death in 1881, at the age of seventy-five years. Robert Burton married in 1860 Margaret Lawrence, daughter of Mr. Isaac Lawrence, of Toronto Gore, by whom he has three children. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and is a Reformer in politics. (vol. II, p. 332)

William Burton, lot 2, concession 9, was born in Toronto Township in the year 1828, being the eldest son of the late Robert Burton, who was well known and respected in Vaughan and the surrounding townships. The latter emigrated from Roxburghshire, Scotland, in the year 1824. He was a stone-mason by trade, and on settling in Toronto assisted in building the old Upper Canada Bank, as well as some other notable erections. He married Violet Oliver (who is still living) and settled in Vaughan in 1830. In 1852 he purchased land in Albion and King Townships, and lived on his farm in the last named section until his death in 1870, at the age of seventy years. William having been brought up to farming has always followed that occupation. He belongs to the Presbyterian Church, and is a Reformer in politics. He is not married. (vol. II, p. 333)

William Burton, lot 4, concession 9, was born in little York, now Toronto, in the year 1830, and is the eldest son of his father’s family. The latter was Mr. Henry Burton, who emigrated from Roxburghshire, Scotland, in 1830; he was a stone-mason by trade, which he followed for two years after his arrival. He helped to build the first Market-place, and Osgoode Hall in Toronto. In 1832 he located on lot 13, concession 9, and settled down to farming, which he continued until his death in 1881, at the ripe age of seventy-seven years. He was a Trustee of the Presbyterian Church, and joined the first congregation formed in the locality. Mr. William Burton espoused in 1860, Jane, a daughter of Neil McDonald, by whom he has four children. He is a member of the Presbyterian body, and in politics a Reformer. (vol. II, p. 333)