SKETCH LXXIX

The Six Montross Brothers and Sisters

The father of the Montross family was a U.E. Loyalist during the war of the Revolution, but he did not live to join his fellow-Loyalists in the work of home-building in Upper Canada. He did live, however, to suffer bitter persecution for his loyalty to the British Crown in those sorrowful days. His family fled into New Brunswick, where they settled on land set apart for expatriated Loyalists, who had suffered and lost everything in the great struggle with their fellow colonists for the supremacy of British rule.[1]

Just before the century drew its last expiring breath, the children of this brave old defender of the flag having heard so many wonderful stories of the new Long Point settlement in Upper Canada—of its fine climate and its fertile lands which were being gratuitously granted to U.E. Loyalists and their children—determined to migrate there also, and secure homes for themselves. The family consisted to three brothers—Levi, Peter and Silas; and three sisters—Phoebe, Frances and Margaret.[2]

Levi Montross drew the north half of Lot 1, Concession B., Charlotteville. He was a very religious man, and in the practical exercise of his Christian faith in the every-day affairs of life, he was the worthy peer of his near neighbor and brother-in-law, Thomas Price. Before the municipal system came into operation he was one of the “Town Commissioners” for Charlotteville, serving as church warden. This term, “church warden,” as applied to a township official in this country, is quite misleading as to its functional signification. The old board of township or parish officers included two whose duty, in part, was to look after the poor and destitute. These two were called “church wardens,” a name borrowed from England and not at all appropriate in its application to these officials. In England the “church warden” is an ecclesiastical official, whose duty is to look after the edifice of the church, superintend ceremonial worship, and such like duties, in his parish. It is simply one of the many English terms which, owing to a different condition of things, have been ridiculously misapplied in the institutions of this country. Many of these incongruous terms have been dropped, and as our own peculiar institutions develop, our terminology becomes less English and more Canadian.

As a church warden in those early days, Levi Montross left a clean record behind him. In 1806 he was appointed High Constable of London District, serving as such for one year. He died childless, willing his farm to his nephew, Peter Price.[3]

Peter Montross married a daughter of Zebulun Leach, and settled on land adjoining his brother Levi, which he drew from Government. For many years he kept a little store on this place, and during the rebellion he turned over, free gratis, his stock of powder to Major Backhouse, and his stock of flints to Simpson McCall—the latter having been sent with a dispatch to Backhouse ordering that officer to forward the militia under his command. Peter Montross also died childless. He willed his farm to his nephew, Jeremiah Johnson, the old pioneer Baptist deacon.

Silas Montross drew land on the lake shore adjoining “The Glen” on the east. Here he settled, having married Sarah, daughter of Frederick Mabee, and here he raised his family. Pellum Mabee started the nucleus of a distillery down at the mouth of the ravine, which passed into the hands of Silas Montross, and which was developed and operated by him until the premises were purchased by Cross & Fisher. During the War of 1812, a party of Americans landed at this place and burned the Finch mill and looted the distillery, carrying off a large quantity of whiskey. Mr. Montross died in 1824, in his 52nd year; and Sarah, his wife, died in 1818, in her 40th year.

In the year 1808, a session of the March term of the old Quarter Sessions Court of London District, was held at Silas Montross‘ house. At this session Thomas Welch, Esquire, sat on the bench as judge, or chairman, with Nathan B. Barnum, William Hutchinson and Samuel Ryerse, Esquires, as associate justices. The following persons were present as grand jurors: Aaron Culver, foreman; Philip Sovereign, Nesbett Culver, John Slaght, Matthias Messacar, Morris Sovereign, Henry Beemer, Leonard Sovereign, Abraham Messacar, John Culver, Daniel Millard, William Robinson, and Michael Shoft. Abner Decew was the constable in charge of them.

The Commission of the Peace and Statutes of the 35th of George III., was publicly read. The High Sheriff and constables were called, and the latter answered to their names as follows: Abner Decew, Silas Dean, Charles Burch, William Winegarner, Garrett Smith and Manuel Allen.

The justices present were then called to put in their recognizances. After this the grand jurors were called, sworn and charged, after which they retired. After the usual proclamation was made, Finlay Malcolm and William Winegarner were called and sworn to give evidence to the grand jury.

The Court then adjourned until four o’clock in the afternoon; and when it again convened, Alexander Taggart, Jesse Rice and Morris Thomas were fined fifteen shillings for non-attendance as jurymen.

This session of the Court was held on the 8th day of March, and the reason for holding it at the house of Silas Montross is not made apparent in the old record. It does show, however, that Mr. Montross was appointed Constable for Charlotteville and Walsingham at the June term in 1805.

Silas Montross had five sons—Wilson, Horatio Nelson, Levi, Rodney and Anderson; and three daughters—Matilda, Julia and Harriet; who married, respectively, Donald Fisher, _____ Lafevre and Samuel Gooden.[4]

Wilson Montross, eldest son of Silas, settled in Walsingham at first, but finally went to California with his family.[5]

Horatio Nelson Montross, second son of Silas, married Cynthia Story, settled on the homestead, and had four sons—Levi, James, Joseph and Alvin; and one daughter, Adaline. Levi and Alvin were tinsmiths, and at one time were engaged in business in Simcoe.

No data was obtained as to the genealogy of the family of Levi, third son of Silas Montross.

Rodney Montross, fourth son of Silas, married Clarissa Green, settled on the homestead, and had five sons—John, Morris, Wilson, Lewis and Ansley; and two daughters—Sarah and Mary Ann.[6] Anderson Montross, youngest son of Silas died single.[7]

Phoebe, Frances and Margaret Montross, the three original sisters, became the pioneer mothers of large and influential families. They married, respectively, Andrew McCleish, Thomas Price and Lawrence Johnson.

[1] Oddly, Owen did not know that the father of the Montross family in Norfolk came and established his family there. Peter Montross filed a land petition to the Executive Council of Upper Canada on 26 Jul 1797 requesting a grant of land on behalf of his wife and nine children. He noted that earlier, he served in Colonel Beverly Robinson’s Loyal American Regiment during the American Revolution. He wrote that “in consequence of such attachment was driven from his family and possessions and suffered much hardship and losses.” (Upper Canada Land Petition “M” Bundle 3, Doc. No. 183). Peter went with his regiment in the exodus of New York to New Brunswick. He earlier married Leah Mabee, a daughter of Frederick Mabee, afterwards the pioneer settler at Turkey Point, Norfolk County. Peter Montross joined his wife’s family in the Long Point Settlement by 1797. For a detailed study of Peter’s antecedents and descendants, see Montross: A Family History, by John and Eva Taylor, p.p (Stanton, VA: 1958). Because Peter Montross met all of the time parameters, all of his children were entitled to apply for a grant of land as the child of a United Empire Loyalist, and all who survived to adulthood did. On 1 Feb 1804, Peter purchased Lot 1, Concession A, Charlotteville Twp. on the east side of the village of St. Williams from his brother-in-law Peter Teeple and his descendants still live there.

[2] Peter and Leah (Mabee) Montross had the following children mentioned in Montross: A Family History All who survived childhood filed a land petition to the Executive Council as a child of a United Empire Loyalist: Levi born 30 Oct 1768; Margaret born 14 Sep 1770; Silas born 20 Jun 1772; Anderson born 21 May 1774; Amy born 15 Aug 1776; Simon born 20 Oct 1780; Frances born 30 Jan 1784; Susannah born 7 Feb 1786; Leah born 1 Oct 1789; Hannah born 4 Dec 1791; Peter born 6 Jun 1793. Of those not mentioned by Owen, Anderson Montross married Rebecca Newcomb and settled in Yarmouth Twp., Elgin Co. Simon married Phoebe _______ and lived on Lot 1, Concession B, Charlotteville Twp. and had no issue. Susannah and Leah apparently died young. Hannah married William Drake and settled in Aldborough Twp., Elgin Co.

[3] Levi Montross had a common-law relationship with his housekeeper Eliza Ann Johnson and they had a natural daughter Matilda named in Levi’s will of 2 Apr 1847, probated on 1 Feb 1856. Matilda Montross was raised by Levi’s nephew Wilson Montross and married to James Taylor and lived at Port Burwell, Elgin County.

[4] Silas Montross had an additional son George born on 14 Sep 1799 who died on 7 Oct 1822 and was buried in Fisher’s Glen Cemetery. Another daughter Elizabeth, born on 3 Nov 1807, was mentioned in Montross: A Family History. Harriet Eliza Montross, born c. 1844 who married Samuel Goodin was actually a granddaughter, child of Horatio Nelson Montross. Silas’ daughter Juliana married on 7 Apr 1835, Daniel LeFevre, the marriage recorded in the London District Marriage Register. Montross: A Family History provides the following birth order for Silas’ sons: George born 14 Sep 1799, Anderson born 25 May 1801, Horatio Nelson born 25 Sep 1805, and Wilson born 9 Nov 1809. The will of Silas Montross dated on 1 May 1824, probated on 8 Jun 1835 did not mention a son Levi. It appears that Owen has confused this Levi with a grandson of the same name. (Norfolk County Surrogate Registry.

[5] In 1840, Wilson Montross purchased Lot 22, Concession 1, Walsingham Twp., the transaction recorded in the Abstract of Deeds Register. He lived there until selling in 1873. Wilson moved to Kingsville, Elgin Co. and operated a store until 1895 when he moved to Riverside, California.

[6] Mary Ann Montross mentioned here was actually Clarissa Ann Montross, born on 25 Jun 1850 and died on 2 Sep 1850. She was buried in Fisher’s Glen Cemetery.

[7] Anderson Montross died on 30 Nov 1828 leaving a daughter Rhoda Montross. On 12 Nov 1835 Oliver Mabee filed an application on Rhoda Montross’ behalf for guardianship papers to be issued to Emmanuel Winter. Source: Upper Canada Land Petition “M” Bundle 3, Doc. No. 259.