William Gillaspy

Founder of St. Williams

A founder of St. Williams, William Gillaspy was said in some records to have given his name to the village. He was born in New Jersey to William Gillaspy Sr. And his wife Ann Everingham on October 1, 1791 according to his family Bible in the possession of the author. William struck out for Upper Canada as a young man in 1812. This picture was taken before his death on December 23, 1867.

Harriett Anne (Monro) Gillaspy

Harriett Anne Monro, born in the Niagara District of Upper Canada on December 27, 1798, was a daughter of Long Point Settler John Monro and his wife Sarah Hatheway. She came to Norfolk County with her parents about 1806 and grew up along the Walsingham - Charlotteville town line about a mile north of Long Point Bay. The picture at the right was taken before her death on September 16, 1888.

William and Harriett married on November 19, 1815 and lived for a few years in Townsend Township until buying the Monro Crown Grant in Lot 24 Concession 2 Walsingham Township. The cabin was situated on the northwest side of the present village of St. Williams a short distance north of the former railroad right-of-way.

During the late 1830's and early 1840's, William severed off one acre and one-half acre lots along the southeast side of his farm for the village of St. Williams which, according to local tradition, was named for William Gillaspy, who was “a saintly man.”