The Ontario Pioneers and Available Genealogies

 "Dickinson to Dutcher"

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Dickinson, Robert (c. 1800-1850) came from Northumberland County, England to Walsingham Township, Norfolk County in 1844 and lived in Port Rowan. Includes three generations of descendants in Norfolk County and in Michigan. Descendant surnames included: Wilson, Gregory, Wood, McIntyre. Two more of this surname, relationship unknown, are included: Edward Dickinson (c. 1800) came from England by 1830 and married Charlotte Barrett. The couple settled in Port Rowan, Walsingham Township. Includes three generations of descendants in Norfolk County. 

Disbrow, Rowland (1773/4-1848) moved with his parents Nathan and Eunice (Rowland) Disbrow from Fairfield, Connecticut to several locations in New York then about 1810 with his wife Elizabeth Edmonds settled in Townsend Township, Norfolk County north of the town of Waterford.  Includes ancestry, siblings, and three generations of descent in Norfolk County and New York. Descendant surnames included: Furlong, Ormiston, Stoneking, Garland. 

Disher, William (c. 1738-1811) was born in New Jersey and came to Upper Canada in 1788, settling initially in Queenston, Niagara Township, Lincoln County. He received a grant of 400 acres of land in Lorts 17, 18, 19 and 20 Concession 3 in Crowland Township, Welland County located between the north side of Schafer Road and the south side of Young Road west of Darby Road and east of Gould Road. This was northwest of present Cook’s Mills and east of the City of Welland.

The genealogy includes six generations on Ontario, western Canada and coast to coast in the United States. Descendant surnames mentioned include Adams, Zimmerman, Overholt, Crow, Smith, Brady, Griffin, Weed, Beamer, Roland, Metler, Parsons, Beaman, Fortner, Mowat, Jackson, Young, Learn, Jewson, Beam, Case, Duggan, Porter and many more.

Dittrick, Jacob see Dettrick, Jacob

Dixon, William (1) (1804-1867) and his wife Jane came to Canada about 1835 and settled in Bertie Township, Welland County then by 1849 moved to Port Dover, Woodhouse Township, Norfolk County where William operated an inn. Included children and grandchildren in Norfolk County. Descendant surnames included: Cairns, Battersby, Park. William Dixon (2) (1808-1890) and his wife Harriet Ann Denby lived in Cowick Yorkshire County, England and in 1852 settled in Woodhouse Township, Norfolk County north of the village of Port Ryerse. Includes children and grandchildren in Norfolk County. William Dixon (3) (c. 1835-) married Julia Ann Lamont and settled in Woodhouse Township, Norfolk County. Following William's death, Julia married Daniel McKinnon. Includes children and grandchildren in Norfolk County. 

Doan, Israel Adam (1808-1882) married in Louth Township, Lincoln County on 6 Mar 1832, Charlotte Beam (1814-1890). Following their marriage, Israel and Charlotte Doan lived in Yarmouth Township, Elgin County. In 1843, Israel Doan purchased a 100-acre farm in the south half of Lot 10, Concession 2, Lobo Township, Middlesex County on the north side of Vanneck Road about ¼ kilometre east of Coldstream Road and about two kilometres east of the village of Komoka.

The genealogy includes four generations in Ontario and coast to coast in the United States. Descendant surnames mentioned: Dingman, Lazenby, Bartley, McKellar, McMillan, Campbell, Kerns, Baker, Wintermute, Harrison, Drake, Adamson, Hamlin, Curtis, Goff, Spence, McKay, Lipsit, Day, Scott, McConnell and many more.

Doan, Jonathan (1765-1847) was born in colonial New Jersey. Jonathan was just a youth when his father died, and being the oldest son was then the head of the household. During the American Revolution, Jonathan Doan, a Quaker, did not take up arms but loyally served the crown with shelter and food to the troops. In retribution, the patriot troops reacted adversely as noted in his 1842 land petition: “That Your Petitioner was settled on the breaking out of the Revolutionary War in the County of Bucks in Pennsylvania. That during the said War Your Petitioner gave shelter and food to parties of the royalists at many different times, also conveyed provisions to the British Companies rendered what assistance he was able to the Royal cause, for which the Insurgent Troops were quartered upon them, who drove off their Cattle, and threshed off their grain and otherwise annoyed them in every possible way.”

Following their marriage, Jonathan and Jane Doan settled in Plumstead Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. In 1789 Jonathan and Jane Doan came to Upper Canada in 1789 and settled on 100 acres of land in Lot 21 Concession 1, Wainfleet Township situated along the east side of Belleview Beach Road and Burnaby Road from Morgan’s Point on Lake Erie north to the present Port Colborne Airport. Morgan’s Point Conservation area is in the southeast part of the farm. Belleview Beach is in the southwest part. The distinctive hills along the lake gave the name of “Sugar Loaf” to the area.

“That Your Petitioner was settled on the breaking out of the Revolutionary War in the County of Bucks in Pennsylvania. That during the said War Your Petitioner gave shelter and food to parties of the royalists at many different times, also conveyed provisions to the British Companies rendered what assistance he was able to the Royal cause, for which the Insurgent Troops were quartered upon them, who drove off their Cattle, and threshed off their grain and otherwise annoyed them in every possible way.”

In 1806, Colonel Thomas Talbot was granted the whole of Elgin County to establish prospective settlers on the lands with the requirement that they make improvements including building a cabin and clearing and planting some of the land. During the 1810 to 1830 period many Niagara pioneers took advantage of the opportunity to establish 100- and 200- acres farms.

In 1811, Jonathan and Jane Doan moved with their family to Yarmouth Township, Elgin County and settled on Lots 7 and 8 Concession 4 on the east and west sides of Fruit Ridge Line between Sparta Line and Bostwick Road about two kilometres east of the hamlet of Union. He dammed the River at what is now called Sanders Pond and established a sawmill. He established the first tannery in 1832.

The genealogy includes ancestry in Pennsylvania and five generations in Ontario, western Canada and coast to coast in the United States. Descendant surnames mentioned: Flint, DeCou, Thompson, Graham, Shoemaker, Bates, Austin, Fry, Burt, Caley, High, Duffie, Marsland, Crossett, Toms, Kent, Richardson, Vasbinder, Gifford, Anderson, Lampkin, Puzey, Brazier, Hyde, Hise, Swaffield and many more.

Doan, Joseph (1727-1818) was a carpenter and prospered in his colonial home area in Plumstead Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania to such an extent that he became owner of two farms and was a land speculator. During the American Revolution, Joseph Doan and his sons being of the Quaker faith refused to train in the militia musters and were penalized with fines by the Patriots which they refused to pay. The continued oppression of the family resulted in his sons rebelling against the Patriots for which they became known and ultimately published as outlaws. On 2 Aug 1799, Joseph and Hester Doan applied to the monthly meeting of Friends for a certificate to remove to Canada, where their sons Aaron and Joseph were living. The certificate was granted, and a contribution made by their sympathizing friends. The couple arrived safe in Humberstone Township, Welland County, Upper Canada where they lived with their children, finally dying in the home of their son Joseph Jr.

Joseph Doan’s son Aaron Doan (1754-1844) settled in Humberston Township. “In Canada he was a member of the Methodist church, a good neighbor, a genial friend and bore and bore a good reputation for honesty and integrity. During the invasion of Canada by the Americans in the War of 1812, he was drafted and served in the British Army.” Aaron Doan arrived in the province in 1788 and settled on a crown grant of 50 acres of land in the west half of Lot 15 Concession 3 and 100 acres in Lot 16 Concession 3. Humberstone Township. 3 This was located along the east side of Miller Road between Concession 2 Road and Concession 3 Road about ½ kilometre east of the hamlet of Bethel. The family burial ground, Doan Cemetery with a memorial plaque to Aaron Doan, U. E. are located in the south part of the farm.

The genealogy includes ancestry in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania and six generations in Ontario and coast to coast in the United States. Descendant surnames mentioned: Millard, Kinsey, Dennis, Waggoner, Lemon, Hutchins, Boomer, Hunter. Boomer, Winchester, Ryckman, Pratt, Roop, Pawling, Winters, Douthitt, Wade, Fresh, Boardman, Vanderveer, Furry, Bearss, Minor, Augustine and many more.

Titus Doan (1727-1803) was born to Elijah and Catherine (Wilson) Doan) near Wrightstown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania on 29 Mar 1727. He married in Hunterdon County, New Jersey on 10 Oct 1751, Deborah Willson. During colonial times, Titus Doan farmed near the Delaware River in New Jersey between Trenton and New Hope, the area of West Amwell and Hopewell Townships in Hunterdon County. The family adhered to the Quaker faith. They sold their farm in 1787 and moved to Upper Canada with their family of seven children, and young grandchildren.

Dodge, Daniel (c. 1770-1851) married Elizabeth Sternberg (1772-  ). The couple came to Upper Canada (Ontario) about 1800 and settled on 200 acres of land in Lot 4 Concession 1 and Broken Front, West Oxford Township, Oxford County. This was located on Karn Road about a mile east of Dodge Line and east of the village of Beachville. Oldest son Adam William Dodge (1795-1864) settled on the homestead. Second son Jesse Dodge (c. 1809-1877) farmed in West Zorra Township near the village of Kintore. Includes five generations of descendants in Oxford County, Ontario, in Western Canada and coast to coast in the United States. Descendant surnames include: Thornton, Charles, Swartz, Wood, Washington, Watt, Sherrin, Cruise, Fry, Hawkins, Jones, Warren, Cowan, Misener, Chambers, Lawson, Draisey, Rofe, Giddy. Dupuis, Edgar, Starks, Coates, Kirby, Watson, Hoffman, Sisty. 

Donaldson, Peter (1781-1841) and his wife Margaret Hutton lived in Perth and Fife Counties, Scotland then about 1840 brought their family to Townsend Township, Norfolk County. Includes three generations of descendants in Norfolk County. Descendant surnames included: Kenney, Woodley

Dougherty, Anthony (c. 1755-1797/8) served in the Loyalist forces during the American Revolution and with his wife Mary McCool lived near Hillsborough, Orange County, North Carolina.  The couple and their family went with Mary’s father, William McCool, to Upper Canada in 1794 and about 1795/6 settled in Townsend Township, Norfolk County. Includes parents, the family of brother James who remained in North Carolina and Anthony’s children in Norfolk County. 

Douglass, Levi (1777-1852) and his wife Elizabeth Monro, a niece of Long Point Settlers James, John and Robert Munro, came from New Jersey to Norfolk County before 1809 and settled in Woodhouse Township south of Simcoe.  Includes five generations of descendants in Norfolk County and elsewhere. Descendant surnames included: Budd, Noble, Patterson, Harrison, Ford, Snider. 

Dowling, Dennis (c. 1776-1839) and his wife Mary Edison lived in Marshalltown, Digby County, Nova Scotia. In 1811 they moved to Upper Canada and settled in Bayham Township, Elgin County. Includes three generations of descendants in Elgin and Kent Counties, and in Michigan and elsewhere. Descendant surnames included: Wilson, Francisco, Fletcher, White, Titus. 

Downs, Walter Smith (c. 1803-) with his wife Amanda Follett lived in Albany, New York then in 1833 came to Upper Canada and settled in Woodhouse Township west of Simcoe. Amanda died in 1837 and Walter remarried to Eleanor Brandow. Includes three generations of descendants in Norfolk County. 

Doxsie, John (c. 1780-1827) and his wife Asenath Love moved from New York to Charlotteville Township, Norfolk County by 1810 and then settled in Burgessville, North Norwich Township, Oxford County.  Includes three generations of descendants in Oxford County, and in Michigan. Descendant surnames included: Andrus, Booth, Reams, Worden, Boyer, Carroll, Lossee. 

Doyle, Benjamin (c. 1750 -  ) During the American Revolution, Benjamin Doyle was a loyalist soldier serving in Butler’s Rangers and was listed on the Muster Rolls of that Corps. He married in 1780, Catharine Summers (daughter of Andrew and Catherine Summers), born c. 1764. The father of his wife Catharine, Andrew Summers was a loyalist soldier in the King’s Royal Regiment of New York.

Following the war, Doyle’s first settlement was on a one hundred acre farm in Lot 14, Concession 2, Stamford Township, Welland County. He lived next in the Grand River area and then on Lot 16, Concession 2, Townsend Township in Norfolk County. This is located between Concession 2 Road and Concession 3 Road east of Cockshutt Road and northeast of the village of Boston. On 18 Mar 1807, John Doyle, blacksmith, purchased the south half of Lot 15, Concession 1, Blenheim Township, Oxford County. This is located on the north side of Highway 2 along the township line of Burford Township, Brant County west of the village of Princeton. Doyle then moved across the road and a little to the east to a two acre home property in the west half of Lot 13 Concession 1, Burford Township.

Includes five generations of descendants in Oxford, Brant and Middlesex Counties in Ontario and in Michigan, Wisconsin and elsewhere in the United States. Descendant surnames included: Pelton, Martin, Beamer, Cousins, Kipp, Diamond, Patrick, Lane, Rowe, Smith, Hill, Nichols, Quackenboss, Bogart, Milmine, Starr, Benham. 

Drake, Benjamin (1734-1817) and his wife Sarah Smith lived in Owasco Township, Cayuga County, New York. Their son William Drake (1761-1842) married Margaret Dowdle and came with her parents to Walpole Township, Haldimand County about 1794. The couple then moved to Woodhouse Township, Norfolk County. During the War of 1812, William served as a Captain in the 2nd Regiment of Norfolk County Militia. They settled later in Yarmouth Twp., Elgin Co. and his sons were instrumental in the founding of Talbotville Royal and St. Thomas. Includes three generations of descendants in Elgin, Kent and Norfolk Counties and in Ohio and elsewhere. Descendant surnames included: Pickard, Jay, Knox, McClary, Honsinger.

Drake, William (c. 1776-1845) came from the United States to Charlotteville Township, Norfolk County before 1810 and married Hannah Montross, daughter of Long Point settler Peter Montross.  The couple lived in Ancaster Township, Wentworth County in 1810, then near Hannah’s father Peter Montross in Charlotteville Township by 1813. They settled later in Aldborough Township, Elgin County. Includes four generations of descendants in Elgin and Haldimand Counties, and in Michigan and New York. Descendant surnames included: Teeple, Wrightman, Appleman, Potter, Pifer, Doan, Sherk, Furry, Bicknell, Galbraith, High, Honsberger, Beebe, Buckmaster, Logan, Lee. 

Dredge, George Henry (1811-1881) and his wife Frances Louisa Webb came from Downton, Wiltshire, England to Simcoe, Norfolk County about 1837 and owned the Mansion House Hotel. Includes children and grandchildren in Norfolk County. Descendant surnames included: Healey, Dean

Drinkwater, James (1793-1866) and his brother William Drinkwater (1802-1805) were born in Kemerton Parish, Gloucester County, England to John and Mary (Turner) Drinkwater). They emigrated to the town of York (present Toronto) in Upper Canada (the present City of Toronto) as single young men by 1821 when they petitioned to the Executive Council for grants of Crown land. They moved next to Chinguacousy Township, Peel County where they filed second petitions in 1824. James Drinkwater then settled on a farm in Rainham Township, Haldimand County along the Rainham Road between Rainham Centre and Sweets Corners. He married first Catherine (Johnson) Fish and second Mary Fisher.

William Drinkwater’s farm was located in Lots 16 and 17, Concession 3 West, South Chinguacousy Township, Peel County on the north side of Peel Regional Road 14 east of the village of Alloa and Creditview Road. Descendants lived in Haldimand, Norfolk, Elgin, Peel and Bruce Counties and elsewhere in Ontario. Some moved to Manitoba, Saskatchewan and British Columbia in Canada. Others lived in Michigan, North Dakota, Washington, California, New York and elsewhere in the United States. Includes parents and grandparents of James and William Drinkwater and five generations of descendants. Descendant surnames included: Speers, Ross, Jepson, Wilkie, Miller, Smelser, Anderson, Belbeck, McBurney, Tuffin, Waldbrook, Booker, Blair, Bradley, Evans, Blue, Lindsay, Reicheld, Hare, McMeekin, Dow, Barber, Laughlin Perkins, Bate, Labelle, Morran, Tubman, Collins, Godbout, Wilkinson, Hunter, Little, Hewson, Bickford, Mehlenbacher, Pond, Tolman, Tanner, Huston, Cavan, Harris, , Hiscox, Walker, Hayhurst, Lint, Wilson, Awde, Fleming, Ren, Shaver, Carlson, Thorburn, Baldwin, Carroll, Chisamore, Wolfe, Simpson, Wardell, Mellen, Spencer, Roberts, Bellamy, Paxton, De Fehr, Cleeton, McKinnon, Kinnis, Sinclair, McKechnie. 

Duggan, Cornelius (c.1755-1805) served in New Jersey Volunteers during American Revolution then took up a town lot in the Town of Niagara, Lincoln County. He then settled in Burford Township, Oxford County and, by 1799 he and wife Ann Stewart settled in Woodhouse Township. Includes three generations of descendants in Norfolk and Addington Counties. Descendant surnames included: Lester, Shaw, Hunt. 

Duncombe, Charles Spencer (1792-1867) came from Stamford Township, Delaware County, New York to Delaware Township, Middlesex County, Upper Canada in 1819. Charles was a physician and David trained as his apprentice. In 1822, Charles established his practice in St. Thomas, Elgin County and in 1824 David started his practice near Waterford, Townsend Township, Norfolk County. Includes ancestors and three generations of descendants in Elgin, Norfolk and Brant Counties and in Illinois, New York and elsewhere. Descendant surnames included: Shenick, Hamilton, Tufford, Smith, Wright, Wegg, Lyon, Moore, Wallace, Marlatt. 

Dunkin, Joseph (1806-1878). Joseph Dunkin and his wife Elizabeth came from Ireland to Canada before 1829, either together or separately. Their oldest son John was born in Upper Canada (Ontario) in 1829. According to a listing in the 1876 Historical Atlas, Joseph Dunkin settled in Norfolk County in 1832. For a time around 1834, Joseph and Elizabeth lived in the town of Simcoe, Norfolk County where their third son William was born. The Dunkin couple settled afterwards on 200 acres in the southeast part of Lot 24 Concession 9 and the north half of Lot 24 Concession 8, Charlotteville Township. This was located in the northeast corner of the township along the township line with the Gore of Woodhouse Township west of the town of Simcoe. Later they settled on the south half of Lot 21, Concession 3, Charlotteville Township in 1832. This is located along present Water Street south of the village of Vittoria. Some descendants of Joseph and Elizabeth continued in Norfolk County. Others settled in Sault Ste. Marie, Algoma District, Ontario and some settled in Alberta, Michigan and elsewhere. Descendant surnames include Thompson, Meir, Hearst, Cook, Corlis, Fleming, Shearer, Foster, Biddle, Ryerse, Duncan, Fergus, Beattie, Behe, Bunts, Sharp. 

Durant, Alfred (1813-1898) came from Wrentham, Suffolk County, England and settled in Norfolk County by about 1857 when he married Martha Elizabeth Peaker. They lived first in Townsend Township, then in Lynedoch, Charlotteville Township and finally in Windham Township. Includes three generations of descendants in Norfolk and Brant Counties, and in Michigan and elsewhere. Descendant surnames included: Peaker, Winegarden, Roberts, Collins, Truckle, Milmine, Decker, Pringle, McArdle. 

Durham, James (1740-   ) was born in Mount Bethel Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania on 23 Mar 1740. During colonial times James Durham and his wife Eve (1743-1825) lived in Mount Bethel Township, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. This is located along the west side of the Delaware River at the intersection of North Delaware Drive (Highway 611) and Potomac Street. On the east side of the Delaware River is Sussex County, New Jersey, the former colonial home of a number of Loyalist families who came to Canada.

During the American Revolution, James Durham was loyal to the British Crown and suffered imprisonment and loss of property as a result. Following the war, Durham came to Niagara, Upper Canada with four of his children, leaving his wife and remaining children in Pennsylvania. Durham died soon after locating his grant in Niagara Township. The exact date has not been learned. 

His widow stated in her 1797 land petition “That your Petitioners Husband came into this Province in the year 1786 and brought with [four] children—That your Petitioner was obliged to remain in the States with [her] five small children until your Petitioners Husband had procured a residence for his family in this Province – That your Petitioners Husband Soon afterwards dying prevented your Petitioner from coming in untill the Year 1791 with the remainder of her family…”

The Durham grant was 200 acres of land in Lots 9 and 38, Niagara Township, Lincoln County. The front of the farm was located along the Niagara River and stretched back across Concession 1 Road to Concession 2 Road. Line 7 Road is a short distance to the north and Line 8 Road is a short distance to the south. The farm is about a mile north of the village of Queenston.

The genealogy includes five generations in Ontario, western Canada, and coast to coast in the United States. Descendant surnames mentioned; Johnson; Cook, Zimmerman, Steele, Thompson, Southward, Cole, Vandyke, Devaney, Vansickle, Myers, Garbutt, Librock, Konkle, Field, Swayze, Clark, Murray, Hutt, Lampman, Leonard, Jones, Stevenson, Pierce, Fairfield, Armstrong, Frazer, Galloway, Danshin, Mulholland, Malcolm and many more.

Dusten, Paul (c. 1750-1822) from either Massachusetts or New Hampshire, following the American Revolution lived at Castine, Maine then in 1784 on Passamaquody Bay, New Brunswick.  In 1799 he came to Upper Canada and settled in Walsingham Township south of the village of St. Williams.  Includes four generations of descendants in Norfolk and Kent Counties. 

Dutcher/De Duyster, Derick (c. 1730) came from Dutchess County, New York to Kingston, Frontenac County in 1787. His son Ephraim Dutcher (1761-) settled in Burfold Township, Brant County.  Includes children and grandchildren in Brant and Norfolk Counties.