Sketch XXXVIII

A Jolly Old Pioneer

Captain William Hutchinson[1] was one of Walsingham’s jolliest old U. E. Loyalist pioneers. At repartee he had no equal among them. If he was not an Irishman, he was certainly equal to one in the large vocabulary of witticisms which he was able to command at all times and on all occasions. He was a tobacco chewer, and on one occasion Squire Backhouse lectured him in court for it. The Squire was very much opposed to the habit, and he told Mr. Hutchinson that tobacco-chewing was a nasty, dirty, filthy habit, and that he ought to be ashamed of himself for indulging in it. “Yes,” rejoined Hutchinson, “it is a n-a-s-t-y, d-i-r-t-y, f-i-l-t-h-y habit, and I am ashamed of it, but, your honor, it the only one of which you are not guilty.”

Captain Hutchinson’s home was in New Jersey, that little state whence came so many of our old pioneers. When the war of the Revolution broke out he remained loyal, and allied himself with the British army and did some good work as a scout. His military services were varied; and many stories are told of thrilling adventures and narrow escapes experienced by him during the war. On one occasion a scouting party to which he was attached was pressed into close quarters by a strong detachment of the rebel forces. Under the spur of the moment they secreted themselves in a clump of bushes, and the enemy passed so close to them that they could actually look into their faces and hear every word they uttered while passing.[2]

William Hutchinson was a widower at the close of the war, and in common with all the U. E. Loyalists, he found it necessary either to leave the country or swear allegiance to the new Republic. The latter he could never do, and so he fled to St. John, New Brunswick,[3] where he married his second wife.[4] In 1798, he came to Long Point with his family, and settled in Walsingham, near the Hazen settlement.[5] His family consisted of five sons¾Alexander, James, David, Joseph and George; and three daughters¾Mary Jane, Elizabeth and Catherine.

William Hutchinson was sworn in as a Justice of the Peace, and sat on the bench as Associate Justice in the early years of the old Quarter Sessions at Turkey Point. He sat as Judge, or Chairman, pro tem, at a session during the June term, 1804; and in March, 1809, he was elected Chairman of the Court, succeeding Thomas Walsh, Esq. In 1804, he was made Associate Justice for the Court of Request for Walsingham, and was reappointed for the same position in the following year.

Alexander Hutchinson, the eldest son of William, was born in New Jersey, and was the sole issue of the first marriage. He married a daughter of John Backhouse, Esq., and settled in Walsingham. He had two sons¾John and George; and one daughter, Maria, who married John Smith.[6] Alexander broke himself down with hard work.

In 1803, he was appointed Deputy Sheriff for London District. When the plans for the new Court-house at the town of Charlotteville (Turkey Point) were perfected in December, 1803, he put in a tender at £281 5s. 0d., but was under bid by Job Loder. He was a prominent figure as Deputy Sheriff during the Court terms of the old Quarter Sessions at Turkey Point in 1803-4.

James Hutchinson, second son of William, married Esther Backhouse, and settled near Port Burwell. He had three sons¾William, Alexander and Haley; and one daughter, Jane.[7]

David Hutchinson, third son of William, married Rebecca, daughter of Noah Fairchild, of Charlotteville, and settled on Talbot Street in Malahide. In this family were five sons¾William, Abial, Noah, Edwin and Lewis; and one daughter, Elizabeth. The mother of this family has reached her 93rd year.

Joseph Hutchinson fourth son of William, married Julia Henchett, and settled on the old homestead. He had one son, William; and one daughter, Julia. Subsequently, Joseph settled at Fredericksburg, and lived to a ripe old age.[8]

George Hutchinson, fifth son of William, married Peggy Beard, and settled in Walsingham. Of this union there were six sons¾Thomas, James, Alfred, William, Edward and Albert.[9]

Mary Jane Hutchinson, eldest daughter of William, married Frederick Sovereign, the founder of Fredericksburg. Her children are enumerated in the Sovereign genealogy. This old pioneer mother was known far and wide as “Aunt Jane Sovereign,” and was noted for her generous hospitality and her quaint, off-hand manner of speech. She was an indefatigable worker, and found rest in busy activity; and to sit still for any length of time was misery to her. She was a regular attendant at church, and to sit in a pew for a solid hour and keep awake until the old-fashioned “fourthly” had dragged out its weary length, was a cross that she was not always able to bear. On one occasion during a “protracted meetin’” the sermon had been unusually long, and when the “conference” exercises began “Aunt Jane” stood up, but said nothing. The kind-hearted pastor, divining that some great trouble was weighing upon her mind, called her by name and offered words of encouragement. “Oh!” exclaimed “Aunt Jane,” as she looked up with arms akimbo, “I've just stood up to rest my hips abit.” As these lines are being written an old familiar scene presents itself. In my mind’s eye I see the old fire-place aglow once more with its flickering flame. In it I see the old crane, and once again I hear the sputtering of the old iron tea-kettle. In front stands the bent form of a dear old, familiar figure. With arms akimbo, she looks into the glowing coals for a moment while the ashes from the inverted bowl of her clay pipe drops upon the old hearth. For a brief moment I turn aside to catch a glimpse of some other passing scene, and when I look again, behold, all is changed! Was it only a phantom? Verily so. The old chimney is dark, damp and musty; the old hearth has caved in and the old crane lies buried in the dust. The old tea-kettle has yielded up its form and the elements of which it was composed have been incorporated into other and newer forms, and in the village cemetery I see a granite column whereon is engraved these lines: “Mary Jane, wife of Frederick Sovereign, died April 16th, 1868, aged 76 years, 2 months and 25 days.”

Elizabeth and Catherine Hutchinson, the two youngest daughters, married, respectively, James McKinna, and Daniel McKinna. Both settled in Illinois.

Captain William Hutchinson was one of Walsingham’s most distinguished pioneers. He had a large circle of acquaintances and a host of warm personal friends. His good-fellowship was the natural out-flow of his warm genial nature. Captain Hutchinson knew how to entertain a friend, and he was the champion story-teller of the settlement. In business matters he was prompt and straightforward, and his word was as good as his bond. Had he craved political honors his rare popularity would have paved the way.

[1] Captain William Hutchison, born in New Jersey c. 1745, died at Walsingham Twp., Norfolk Co. on March 20, 1826 according to his gravestone in Franklin/Fairview Cemetery, Port Rowan. He signed his name as “Hutchison“ as did his sons. During the later 1800’s some of the grandsons changed the spelling to “Hutchinson“ while others retained the original spelling.

[2] William served during the American Revolution as a Captain in the 1st Battalion of the New Jersey Volunteers, stated in his Upper Canada Land Petition of July 20, 1801, “H” Bundle 5, Doc. No. 51.

[3] Following the American Revolution, Captain Hutchison went with his regiment in the 1783 evacuation of Loyalists from New York to New Brunswick. He took up a grant of land at Kennebecasis. Source: Esther Clark Wright, The Loyalists of New Brunswick (Wolfeville, NS: 1955), p. 294

[4] This second marriage to Catharine Lewis occurred long before the time of Norfolk County marriage records. However, William had it entered when the London District Marriage Register began in 1799. He and Catharine married at Parr (St. John), New Brunswick on August 30, 1784. Catharine was born c. 1761 and died 15 Aug 1845 ae 84y according to her gravestone beside that of her husband, in Franklin/Fairview Cemetery, Port Rowan.

[5] After coming to Upper Canada, William Hutchison lived briefly at York (Toronto), his residence at the time of filing his land petition. On January 9, 1802, he purchased 200 acres of land in Lot 14, Concession 2, Walsingham Township and made that his subsequent home. Source: Abstracts of Deeds Register of Walsingham Township.

[6] Alexander’s children were named in his will dated March 16, 1815, probated March 6, 1816, including a fourth, William Butler Hutchison. Source: London District Surrogate Registry, Doc. No. 61.

[7] The will of James Hutchison gives a very different list of children. Dated at Bayham Township, Elgin County on October 11, 1843 and probated on May 27, 1858, James’ will named his wife Esther and children John James, Alexander Berkley, Margaret Jane and Levi Lewis. Source: Elgin County Surrogate Registry, Doc. No. 53

[8] I have been unable to find any records of these two children assigned to Joseph Hutchison. In the 1852 Census of Middleton Township, the following were living with him: Adeline, born c. 1825; John H., born c. 1831; Mary J., born c. 1834. Family historians John and Eva Taylor in Montross: A Family History (Stanton, VA: 1958), p. 241 also mentioned another child: Joseph Henry, born c. 1827.

[9] George Hutchison married at Walsingham Township on April 17, 1828, his cousin Margaret Bayar, daughter of John and Margaret (Hutchison) Bayar, reported in the Gore Gazette newspaper. The father’s surname was sometimes written “Bear“ and hence “Beard“. In addition to the children named, George had the following: Leonard, died on November 30, 1844 aged 2 years and 5 months, buried in Franklin/Fairview Cemetery; Amanda Helen, born on July 9, 1844, baptized on March 1, 1845 (Wesleyan Methodist Baptisms); Maria Kate, born October 27, 1846, died March 29, 1930 who lived with her nephew James Hutchison (son of Edward); Margaret J., died November 30, 1854 aged 4 years, 4 months, buried in Franklin/Fairview Cemetery.