John Adamson

John Adamson was a mason at the time of his marriage in Yorkshire, and he is described as a mason or bricklayer in city directories of Toronto in the 1830s and early 1840s. He immigrated to Canada in 1833 with his wife’s family. Starting in 1834, he began acquiring land in Pickering township, in  what was then Ontario County, but he doesn’t seem to have moved there until 1844. In the 1830s, he is said to have been involved in the construction of Toronto’s first sewer system, and he is also known to have built houses. The 1842 census shows he had seven employees. He was partners with George Harbron, who was married to his wife’s sister. John was a volunteer fireman. In Pickering township, he set up a brickmaking operation, and also farmed. Although an Anglican, in the late 1840s he built a Methodist church on property he donated for the purpose. (His wife’s family were Methodists). He carved the pulpit from wood. (It has since been stolen, as has been a reportedly beautiful dining room set which he also made himself.)  He is buried in the cemetery attached to the church he built.


He is said to have had dark brown hair and dark eyes.


Events


Date of Birth: about 1804 to 1807

Place of Birth: Yorkshire

John Adamson’s age at death (52) and place of birth are given on his gravestone, and his age at his next birthday (probably in 1852) is given in the 1851 census as 46. 


Date of Baptism: 2 February 1807.

Place of Baptism: Loftus, Yorkshire.

The baptism is recorded in the parish register. I give an argument that this is the correct baptism below in the Commentary section.


Date of Death: 31 July 1856

Place of Death: Presumably Salem Corner, Pickering Township, Ontario County, Canada West.

The date is given on his gravestone, and in Our Family History (p. 120): "He died July 31st, 1856. They were hauling in their wheat that day."


Place of Burial: Salem Cemetery, Pickering township, Pickering County, Ontario.

His gravestone exists.


Relationships


Father: George Adamson.

Mother: Elizabeth Tiplady.

See the commentary section.


Spouse: Elizabeth Sadler (11 August 1808 - 14 April 1901). Married 1 June 1828 in Thornton Dale, Yorkshire.

The date and place are given in the parish register.


Children:

(Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project. Sources include Yorkshire parish registers, Canadian censuses, Ontario birth, death, and marriage registrations, gravestones, and Our Family History.)


Mary Adamson (25 October 1828 - 8 February 1830)


Samuel Adamson (19 December 1830 - 3 September 1900) married Mary Ann Wilson.


Mary Adamson (28 January 1833 - 28 August 1833)


John Maw Adamson (8 September 1835 - 4 December 1836)


Thomas Adamson (1 February 1837 - 3 September 1900) married Rachel Bowers.


Robert Adamson (8 April 1839 - 5 February 1918) married Margaret Maria Gibson on 16 May 1872 in Brooklin, Ontario.


Sarah Ann Adamson (5 September 1841 - 26 April 1923) married Robert Graham 14 May 1859 in Ontario County, Canada West.


William Wilfrid Adamson (10 February 1843 - 4 May 1912) married Margaret Moody.


John Maw Adamson (28 February 1847 - 8 February 1928) married Adelaide Victoria Harvey.


Henry Gamble Adamson (14 July 1849 - 26 April 1935) married Elizabeth Beatrice Cooke on 6 June 1876 in Toronto, Ontario.


Evidence


Thornton Dale parish register:


John Adamson and Elizabeth Sadler both of this Parish were  married in this Church by Banns with Consent of those required this First Day of June in the Year One thousand eight hundred and twenty eight By me R:B:Scholefield Curate

This Marriage was solemnized between us John Adamson   Elizabeth Sadler

In the Presence of   George Beal  Adah Maw  William Sadler  George Skelton Clerk


[John had been a witness at the 1824 marriage of Elizabeth Sadler's brother John.]


[Baptisms]:


When Baptized: October 26th [1828]

Child’s Christian Name: Mary Daughter of

Parents Name. Christian: John and Elizabeth

Surname: Adamson

Abode: Thornton

Quality, Trade, or Profession: Mason

By whom the ceremony was performed: R:B: Scholefield Curate


When Baptized: 1830 December 22nd

Child’s Christian Name: Samuel son of

Parents Name. Christian: John and Elizabeth

Surname: Adamson

Abode: Thornton

Quality, Trade, or Profession: Mason

By whom the ceremony was performed: R:B: Scholefield Curate


When Baptized: Feby 3rd [1833]

Child’s Christian Name: Mary Daughter of

Parents Name. Christian: John and Elizabeth

Surname: Adamson

Abode: Thornton

Quality, Trade, or Profession: Mason

By whom the ceremony was performed: R:B: Scholefield Curate


[Burials]:


Mary Adamson  Thornton  Feb.y 9th [1830]  year 1   R:B:Scholelfield Curate


1842 census information (not an exact transcript):

Head of Household: John Adamson

Owner of dwelling: John Adamson

Entitled to vote: John Adamson

Occupation: Bricklayer

Number of natives of England in family: 4

Number of natives of Canada in family: 3 [This number seems to have been written in error in the French Canadian column.]

Number of years in Canada: 9

Number of males under 5: 1

Number of females under 5: 1

Number of males aged 6 to 13: 2

Number of females aged 6 to 13: 1

Number of members of the Church of England: 1

Number of Canadian Wesleyan Methodists: 1

Number of male servants (presumably meaning “employees”): 7


[The census was taken shortly before 1 February 1842.]


1851 Census of Canada West, Ontario County, Pickering

http://data2.collectionscanada.gc.ca/e/e095/e002363000.jpg

[The census was actually taken in early 1852.]


John Adamson  Brick Layer  [Place of Birth] England  [Religion] Methodist W  [Age next birth day] 46

Elizth Adamson  [England]  [Methodist W] 44

Saml Adamon  [England]  [Methodist W] 22

Thos Adamson [Canada] [Methodist W] 15

Robert Adamson [Canada] [Methodist W] 13

Ann Adamson  [Canada] [Methodist W] 11

Wm Adamson  [Canada] [Methodist W] 8

John Adamson  [Canada] [Methodist W] 5

Henry Adamson [Canada] [Methodist W] 3


John Adamson's will:


This Indenture Witness that I John Adamson of the Township of Pickering in the County of Ontario and Province of Canada West: Yeoman, do hereby make my last Will and Testament, it being uncertain the time of my departure; and being now in my perfect memory and Powers of Mind:-- to prevent any Confusion in my Family after my decease. I do arrange my Worldly affairs as follows. that is to say,


First: My Will is That my funeral charges and just debts shall be paid by my executrix and executors hereinafter named: -- The residue of my Estate and property which shall not be required for the payment of my just debts, funeral charges, and expences attending the execution of This my last Will, and the administration of my Estate, I Give, Devise, and Dispose thereof as follows, namely:


I Give and Bequeath to my beloved Wife Elizabeth Adamson all my real estate, personal property, goods, and chattells, household furniture, beds and bedding: for her use and support during her natural life, and the maintaining and educating my children who are under the age of twenty one years: -- Also I Will and Request that in case my Wife Elizabeth Adamson should die before the time that one or more of my youngest children shall come to the age of twenty one years, my Executors shall apply the profits or interests that may arise from my said real Estate, personal property, goods, and Chattels for the maintaining and educating either one or more of my said youngest children shall come to the Age of twenty one years as the case may be.


I Will and Request that all my Children (seven in number) shall have an equal share of all my Estate real and personal which said equal shares shall not be received until my Wife Elizabeth Adamson’s death -- but if the death of my Wife Elizabeth Adamson should take place before my youngest son(?) Henry Adamson shall come of Age then the said equal shares shall not be received until my said son Henry Adamson shall come to the age of twenty one years, subject to the following arrangement, (that is to say:)


I Will and Bequeath to my Eldest son Samuel Adamson his heirs and assigns the north fifty acres of Lot number seven in the fifth concession of the Township of Pickering. [pencilled note: Samuel was killed at Manitoba on 3rd Nov 1900 He had not disposed of this parcel]


I Give and Bequeath to my youngest son Henry Adamson his heirs and assigns the south fifty acres of the north hundred of Lot number seven in the fifth concession of the Township of Pickering aforesaid. [pencilled note: Henry sold this to Cawthra of Toronto][pencilled note: Henry cut and sold a lot of(?) wood off this place & depreciated the value]


I Give and Bequeath to my son Thomas Adamson his heirs or assigns the north east quarter of number eight (fifty acres) in the fifth concession of the Township of Pickering Aforesaid. [pencilled note: Thos sold this to Mulcock][pencilled note: Thomas was killed at the same time as Samuel -- He left no will -- Had nothing to will -- His widow Rachel Adamson lives in Toronto -- He left a family all grown up.]


I Give and Bequeath to my son Robert Adamson his heirs and assigns the east half of Lot number three in the Township of Tecumseth. [pencilled note: Robert sold this to Wm Train of Tecumseth now lives in Flos]


I Give and Bequeath to my son William Adamson, his heirs and assigns the north half of Lot number eighty in the first concession, east of the Penetangueshine Road in the Township of Tay. [pencilled note: Wm has not parted with this His P.O. is Waverley.]


I Give and Bequeath to my son John Adamson his heirs my west house situate on Richmond Street in the City of Toronto. [pencilled note: John has not parted with his Greenwood]


I Give and Bequeath to my daughter Sarah Ann Adamson her heirs my East House situate on Richmond street in the city of Toronto. [pencilled note: Sarah Ann Graham Minnedosa]


I Will and Request that as soon as the death of my beloved wife Elizabeth Adamson shall take place my real Estate and personal property to me belonging shall be valued by three honest and disinterested persons to be then appointed by Executors herein after named to ascertain the amount of the value of my said estate real and personal and then to be divided in such a manner that each child may have an equal share. Also I Will and request that in case my said beloved Wife Elizabeth Adamson shall die before my youngest son Henry Adamson shall come of age the valuation of my said Estate real and personal shall not take place and the division made untill my said youngest son Henry Adamson shall come to the age of twenty one years. [pencilled note: E A died in Apr 1901]


I Will and Request that as soon as the amount of the value of each of my said children’s share is ascertained in the way and manner before mentioned if the bequest by me made to each of my children as mentioned in another part of this my last Will and Testament shall amount to more than each child’s share then my said children whose bequest shall amount in value to more than each of my children’s share shall pay the balance to each of my children whose bequest comes short in value to each of my children’s equal share.


Also I Will and request that should any of my children die under age and without heirs that child’s share shall be divided equally among my surviving children.


Lastly I do hereby nominate and appoint my beloved Wife Elizabeth Adamson the Executrix and my (faithful -- crossed out) oldest son Samuel Adamson and my faithful and true friend William Bower Executors of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking all former Wills and Testaments by me made. [pencilled note: Executors all dead]


In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal [rest missing?]


Attached note:


S ½ & N ½ of lot 7 5 Con Pick’g

Rel. Es. R. 22 Nov. 1898 rec’d 28 Nov 98 Hy Adamson of Pick’g yeoman P’P’ -- Charlotte Elizabeth Cawthra of Toronto widow Hy Cawthra of same place Esquire & Wm Mulock Esq. Trustees under will of Joseph Cawthra deceased [?]

&

Elizabeth Beatrice Adamson wife of H [?]


NE ¼ 8 5 Con -

5276 B(?) Jan’y 16/84 Jany 25/84 Thos Adamson & wife to Wm Mulock


Attached note:


Write to Sam’ls widow


Attached note:


Write to Wm result of negotiations


There is no personal estate now outstanding


Samuel, Henry, Thomas, Robert, William & John were the only sons of Testator, and Sarah Ann the only daughter of Testator


John & Wm are willing to stand by the will & expr agreement waiving any claim to valuation --


Write Mulock and Cawthra as to this


In Train’s case all parties quit claimed


Also write to Sarah Ann & see what she will do


Attached note:


Values according to John Adamson


Henry’s 50 acres $1000

Thos 50 acres $1500

Sam’l’s 50 acres $1500

Wm’s said to be worth about $1500


Gravestone (Salem United Church Cemetery, Pickering, Ontario):

In memory of John Adamson A native of Yorkshire who died July 31, 1856 aged 52 years


Transcriptions from Our Family History:


A description (or descriptions) of the house John Adamson built in Pickering township (Our Family History, pp. 107-108):


   In the summer kitchen with its brick floor and cherry table set with the complete set of willow pattern china dishes was a large window like our picture windows now a days. Outside, every year, by my choice, grew little red dahlias and coloured morning glorys, and in front of another window was a large round bed of annuals. This house was surrounded by flag stone walks and flag stone porches. The house was furnished with beautiful furniture and an extension table of cherry with twelve chairs of cherry, the backs of which were twisted limbs. Also a cherry tea table to match. A beautiful chest of walnut and a beautiful walnut serving table graced the living room. In the early days walnut trees grew in great numbers around Toronto.

   The first acre of land for the Salem Cemetery was given by John Adamson in 1844 and services are held every last Sunday in June as decoration day. More land has been added and it is very attractive.

   The yellow house near the sixth concession, one might call it Greenwood, has flagstone walks and large patches of flag stones on which one can walk in front of the doors. There is a little picket gate with some irons on a chain to make it stay closed and a pump near the corner of the house with a dipper hung with which to have a drink. Everyone, after taking a drink, threw the remains into a red radish bed. Oh, what radishes were ready in two weeks!

   A short distance away was a sunflower path fifty feet square with a path leading to the privy which was white-washed inside and out and which could not be seen for the tall sunflowers.


from page 120:


   Elizabeth Maw Sadler and John Adamson came to Canada from Thornton Pickering Yorkshire, England, in 1832 to “little Muddy York”, Toronto.

   In partnership with John Adamson was George Harbron and his wife Mary Sadler, Elizabeth’s sister.

   They were stone masons and built some of the first fine houses in Toronto. They had forty men working for them and went to Hamilton to bring back stones for sills, etc. They built the first seven in Toronto.

   They built four lovely brick houses, two for John and two for George. When George died Mary lived in one and had the rent of the other on which she and her son, William (Bill) lived.

   John Adamson and family moved to Greenwood, Pickering, Ontario, in 1844. He died July 31st, 1856. They were hauling in their wheat that day.

   When a mason he went to work in a clean white suit with blackened boots with heels well polished.


from page 143:


  Elizabeth Sadler Adamson’s orchard had a hawthorne hedge a quarter of a mile along the sixth concession of Pickering. Entering the big gate to a long lane, one arrived at the house with a huge fireplace in it into which a team of oxen drew the logs. A hawthorne hedge went along the south and east of the orchard in which grew a beautiful apple striped inside and out with red, Strawberry Pepper. Near it stood an old brass pan filled with pansies. One could lay on one’s back and eat the Snow apples which grew in front of the living room.


from page 146:


Grandma’s Well


   Near the house was a platform with about twelve heavy timbers. In the middle was a box two feet square covering a hole. A well pail hung on the pole. This was put into the well and, hand over hand, was pulled out. The well was thirty-five feet deep and the water came to fifteen feet from the top. The water was cool and clear. Grass grew around the platform. At the edge grew a perennial flower of pink and mauve, light and rich. It came up every year.


Commentary


My argument for John’s parents and baptism is this:

My main reservation about this baptism is that John named his eldest son Samuel, a name that doesn’t seem to appear in the Adamson or Sadler families in the few previous generations, and he didn’t name any of his seven sons George. I am not quite sure what to make of this. He did, however, name at least one son, Henry Gamble, after a family friend.


References


John Adamson household, 1842 census of Canada West, Toronto (City), St. Georges, Volume 1, Reference MG 31 C1 (item number 11172); digital image, Library and Archives Canada, Censuses (https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/census/Pages/census.aspx : accessed 9 March 2014),citing LAC microfilm C-1344

A digital image may be viewed here: http://data2.collectionscanada.gc.ca/1842/uc/jpg/004569584_00487.jpg


John Adamson household, 1851 census of Canada West, Ontario (district 26),Pickering Township (subdistrict 245), ED 12, stamped page 139, line 15; digital image, Library and Archives Canada, Censuses (https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/census/Pages/census.aspx : accessed 9 March 2014),citing LAC microfilm C-11742

A digital image may be viewed here: http://data2.collectionscanada.gc.ca/e/e095/e002363000.jpg


John Adamson: Last Will and Testament, Pickering-Ajax Digital Archive (Canada). Digital images may be viewed here: http://www.pada.ca/books/page/?id=2110&view=image&


John Adamson - Elizabeth Sadler marriage, Thornton Dale, Yorkshire (Bishop’s Transcripts); FHL microfilm 990864, item 2 (Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah).


A transcription of the gravestone of John Adamson is available in the Pickering-Ajax Digital Archive. URL: http://www.pada.ca/cemeteries/results/?name=9417


“In memory of John Adamson A native of Yorkshire who died July 31, 1856 aged 52 years”

Marker: J.A.


Hawn, Elizabeth Beatrice Adamson. Our Family History. (Gravenhurst, Ontario: Baxter Press Ltd., October 1969).

[Elizabeth Beatrice Adamson Hawn, the compiler, was a granddaughter of John Adamson.]


McLean, Beatrice, and Mrs. Irven McLean. Greenwood Through the Years (Greenwood Farm Forum, 1960).  Digital images: Pickering-Ajax Digital Archive

URL: http://www.pada.ca/books/details/?id=89

See in particular page 13 (the construction of the church at Salem), and pages 42 and 43 (a description of the brickyard at Salem.)


Parish register, Thornton Dale, Yorkshire. Digital images on Findmypast.co.uk accessed 24 February 2018.


Will of George Adamson. Proved 1849 in the Exchequer Court of York, volume 221, folio 1068.


Will of Thomas Adamson of Lofthouse. Proved 1854 in the Prerogative Court of York, volume 234 folio 226.


Wood, William R. Past Years in Pickering. (Toronto, 1911).