One of the most prominent characters among the old settlers was Deacon Joseph Kitchen. He was noted for his uprightness of character; his off-hand, square-toed “Yes” -and- “No” way of doing business; his fearless independence in thought and action, and his powerful physique. Mr. Kitchen was not a U. E. Loyalist. He was born in Newton, Sussex County, New Jersey, and came into the world a little too late to take part on either side when the big family quarrel broke out.[1] He did not behold the light of day until after peace had been established, and when the first fracas did occur after he was big enough to fight, which happened in 1812, he was one of the first men in his neighborhood to offer his services in fighting the Yankees.He served his adopted country during that war, and was sergeant of his company. He was under Captain McCall at the notorious battle of “The Foot Race,” and it is said his company was the last to break ranks and run. While stationed at Burlington Heights, Colonel Hamilton sent him west with an important despatch, and while pursuing his way through a lonely stretch of woods, two Indians sprang out from a thicket and caught the bridle of his horse. One of them had a gun, and, as quick as a flash, he pointed it at Sergeant Kitchen’s face and ordered him to dismount. Leaning over as though about to comply, he quickly drew his sword from the opposite side, and, knocking the muzzle of the musket upward, which sent the discharge over his head, he dealt the Indian a powerful blow, with the intention of splitting his head. He struck a little to one side, burying the sword in the Indian’s shoulder, directly under his right ear; and such was the force of the blow that he was unable to retain his weapon, and when the Indian fell, it went with him. The other Indian had no gun, and when his companion fell he ran into the woods.

Richard Lanning, who had previously settled on Lot 16, 5th concession of Charlotteville, and Mr. Kitchen, were warm friends. Mr. Lanning came from New Jersey also; and when he was leaving he called at the tannery in Newton, where Mr. Kitchen worked, to bid him good-bye. Lanning was a religious man, and at this parting interview he beseeched his friend to repent of his evil ways and become a Christian. Young Kitchen’s mind was deeply impressed with the earnest solicitude which his friend, Lanning, manifested for his soul’s welfare, and shortly afterwards he “experienced religion.” After his conversion his joy knew no bounds. He had been a wild young man, and it seemed as though he must take his friend Lanning by the hand and tell him the good news; but his friend was in the wilderness of Upper Canada, 500 miles away. The longer he lingered, however, the stronger the impulse became to go to him, until at last he packed his knapsack with all his earthly belongings and , strapping it on his back, started off through the forest on his long pilgrimage on foot. He followed the Hudson River as far as Albany, and then took a westerly course, reaching the shore of Lake Ontario back of Rochester, which, at that time, contained only three houses. Following the lake shore a short distance he crossed to the Niagara River, and came up the shore of Lake Erie to the “Town of Charlotteville”—Turkey Point.

His experiences during this long journey, alone and on foot, if written, would make an intensely interesting tale. He was lengthy of limb and possessed great powers of physical endurance; and as incredible as it may appear, this young pioneer athlete averaged fifty miles per day in making this journey. When night overtook him, he would lay down on the beach, or wherever he might be, using his knapsack for a pillow. He was greatly annoyed by the wolves, and was several times attacked by them.

When Mr. Kitchen reached his friend Lanning’s house, the meeting between the two old friends may be imagined much better than it can be described. Mr. Kitchen’s conversion had not been a sudden transition “from darkness to light,” which so many of the old-fashioned Christians experienced. It had been a gradual process, and was quite too “rational” for the times. After explaining its nature to his friend, Lanning exclaimed in utter astonishment: “What! Why, Jo, you don’t know anything about religion! True conversion is jist like poppin’ out of a tar barrel into the blazin’ light of the noon-day’s sun!” This was very discouraging to the young convert, who had walked 500 miles, enduring so many hardships, just to tell his friend that he had been converted. In fact, the disappointment was so keenly felt, that for years afterwards he doubted whether he had ever been converted.

If it was not a political motive that brought Joseph Kitchen into Upper Canada, as was the case with many of his U. E. Loyalist neighbors, it certainly was a religious motive that brought him here. He was pleased with the country while making his visit, and he resolved to settle here. After looking about a little, he finally settled on Lot 20, 6th concession of Charlotteville. The Shearers, McCalls, Tisdales and others had previously settled in the immediate neighborhood, and thus he had neighbors in the start. He was a tanner by trade, and after making a beginning he built a tannery and operated it for a number of years. The tanning business proved very remunerative, and put its owner on the highway to prosperity.

Many tales are told of the wonderful feats of strength performed by Mr. Kitchen during his younger days. It is said that he once undertook the splitting of a thousand rails in a day, on a wager. He split 700 in the forenoon, and having cut his foot, was unable to work in the afternoon, thereby losing the wager. He was the champion mower of the township. On one occasion a so-called expert mower came along and challenged Kitchen for a mowing contest. Mr. Kitchen looked him over, and then offered a wager that he could mow on his knees and beat him across the field. The wager was accepted, and Kitchen won.

In his younger days, “Jo” Kitchen was a pugilist of no small renown, as more than one meddlesome, conceited settler had occasion to remember. One winter he and James Haze took some truck to Hamilton to sell, and a very funny thing happened while returning. Mr. Kitchen was lying in the bottom of the sleigh-box and Haze was driving. Some distance west of Ancaster they came up to a man on foot, who asked for a ride. Seating himself by the side of the driver, a conversation at once sprang up between them, and learning where they were from, the stranger said:

“There’s a d____ Yankee up there in that Long Point settlement somewhere, named Jo Kitchen,” and then he asked Haze if he knew him.

“Oh, yes,” replied Haze, “I’m well acquainted with him.”

“Well,” continued the incautious stranger, “He thinks he’s a great fighter cos he licked a brother o’ mine once; but if I ever set eyes on the Yankee galoot, I’ll lick the tar out of him.”

Quick as a flash Kitchen sprang up and caught the stranger in his powerful arms and threw him head-first into a snow bank, exclaiming, as he did so:

“I’m that d____ Yankee galoot your’re talkin’ about; what more do ‘ye want?’”

The team was going at a brisk trot, and shouting “whoa,” he sprang out of the sleigh, but the stranger did not stay to even say “thank you” for the ride—if he ever ran for his life it was on that very occasion.

Mr. Kitchen was peacefully inclined, and never “picked a quarrel.” It was only when some bully showed a disposition to step on him, or shove him into a corner, that he demonstrated his ability to take care of himself. He was a singing school master of “ye olden times,” and he kept his voice remarkably well up to the time of his death. Deacon Kitchen was a pillar of strength in the old Baptist church in Vittoria, and when he died there was a broken pillar in his church, and a vacancy created in the community in which he lived that very few men, indeed, are able to fill.

Deacon Kitchen married Miriam Barber in 1809, who bore him twelve children. Three died in childhood, and one, Hannah, grew into womanhood, and died single. Of the eight who married, two were sons—John and Egbert M; and six were daughters—Charity, Jane, Mary Ann, Ruth, Cynthia and Martha. The old pioneer died in 1868, in his 82nd year, and his wife survived him seven years, dying in 1875, in her 83rd year.

John Kitchen, the eldest son, married Rebecca, daughter of Abraham Smith, of Charlotteville, and settled on Lot 22, 11th concession of Windham, being one of the pioneers of that township.[2] He had two daughters—Rozena and Cynthia. Both are married, and living. The old people are both living.

Egbert M. Kitchen, the youngest son and last born child, married Abigail Weir, and succeeded to the old homestead. He had three sons—Richard, Joseph and William; and one daughter, Maude. The eldest died in childhood, and the others remain single. Both father and mother are living.

Charity Kitchen, the eldest daughter, married Michael Segar, and settled in London. She had one daughter, Frankie, who died single. Father and mother are both dead.

Jane Kitchen, the second daughter, married George McMichael, of Townsend. She had two sons—Joseph K. and Oscar; and one daughter, Melinda. Joseph K. succeeded to the homestead. The other children, together with the father and mother, are all dead.

Mary Ann Kitchen, the third daughter, married William L. Sovereign, and settled at Fredericksburg. She had three sons—Albert, Frederick and Job; and three daughters—Tamson, Hannah and Miriam. Frederick, Job and Tamson, and the father and mother, are dead.

Ruth Kitchen, the fourth daughter, married Albert Trehune, who settled on Lot 19, 6th concession of Charlotteville. She had three sons—Gilliam, Joseph and Edwin; and one daughter, Cynthia. Both father and mother, the eldest son, and the daughter, are dead.

Cynthia Kitchen, the fifth daughter, married Joel W. Owen, of Vittoria, and had one son, Egbert A. The mother died young.[3]

Martha Kitchen, the sixth daughter, married Albert Trehune, as his second wife. She had one son, Albert; and one daughter, Lily. Both are married, and both parents are dead.

Of this large family two only are living—John and Egbert M. There are no Kitchens in the fourth generation, and only two in the third, upon whom the propagation of the name depend; and they are Prof. Joseph Kitchen, of Brooklyn, and Dr. William Kitchen, of Detroit, sons of Egbert M. Kitchen.

[1] Joseph Kitchen was born on October 29, 1786 according to a family bible of his brother James Kitchen. He was likely born at Alexandria Twp., Hunterdon Co., New Jersey, where his parents John and Susannah (Bird) Kitchen lived at the time.

[2] John Kitchen actually settled on Lot 23, Concession 11, Windham Twp., not Lot 22. This was his stated residency in the 1852 Census, the 1867 Gazetteer of Norfolk County and shown on township map in the 1877 Historical Atlas of Norfolk County.

[3] This is Egbert Americus Owen, the author of Pioneer Sketches of Long Point Settlement. After Cynthia (Kitchen) Owen died, Egbert was raised by his uncle John Kitchen at Windham Township.