Marie Williams: A large crowd packed into the Glencoe and District Historical Society Archives on Wednesday evening, March 12. Following announcements, a brief membership report and some unfortunate technical difficulties, Society president Mary Simpson introduced the evening’s guest speaker, Glencoe native and author Daniel Perry.
Perry spoke about his newest work, a non-fiction memoir focussed on his own research into the life of Thomas Gardiner and Gardiner’s connection to the hamlet of Cashmere in the former Township of Mosa.
Born in 1774 in Ireland, Singleton Gardiner sailed for New York State in 1804. He moved to the Talbot Settlement in 1816 and to Mosa Township in 1825. He built a mill in 1834 on the site of what became Cashmere.
His brother Thomas Gardiner, born in Ireland in 1767, sailed for New York in 1804 and arrived in Upper Canada in 1807. Perry outlined charges laid against Thomas Gardiner which were subsequently dismissed, the connections between Thomas Gardiner and John Parker Jr., tales from the War of 1812, his years serving as a teacher, disputes over land, family friction and his pleas for help as an aging man.
Singleton Gardiner was the first person buried at the Cashmere Cemetery in 1834 but there is no stone marking what could be the grave of Thomas Gardiner.
Saturday, December 7, 2024 | 1:00 – 4:00 PM Sunday, December 8, 2024 | 1:00 – 4:00 PM
NEW Melbourne United Church, 592 John Street, Melbourne, Ontario
Step back in time and celebrate the season with us at the Manse, a classic example of Italianate architecture.
What to Expect: 🎄 Period Christmas Decorations: Experience the charm of Victorian-era holiday décor.
📜 Historic Displays: Explore exhibits showcasing Melbourne’s local history, including fascinating artifacts and stories of the area’s past. 👀 Signature Quilt: See the 1918 signature quilt on display—could your ancestors’ names be stitched into its fabric? Discover your family connections!🛷 Kilbourne Cutter Sleigh: Admire this elegant piece of local history on the front lawn.
Architecture Highlight The Manse, built with locally-made brick, features a wide central hall, a stunning staircase, and large windows with stained glass. While originally designed without modern conveniences like bathrooms, later adaptations—including 1960s enclosed porches—have added layers to its architectural story over the decades.
The Italianate design of this home was inspired by plans published in the Canada Farmer magazine in 1865, which highlighted this style for its practicality and grandeur.
Giving Back In the spirit of the season, we are graciously accepting non-perishable food items and cash donations for local food banks. Join us for a heartwarming afternoon filled with history, holiday cheer, and community spirit. We can’t wait to welcome you!
Stories about the Kilmartin community who established Burns Presbyterian Church in the hills of North Mosa.
Marie Williams reported: A great crowd attended Sunday’s “Stroll Through Time” at Burns. The event had been postponed from February due to icy conditions. Morgan MacTavish served as narrator with cast members Sarah, Sophie, Anela and Audrey Faulds, Andrew Johnson, Courtney Bailey, John David MacTavish, Taylor Chalupka and Carol Leitch doing a great job in their roles. Scriptwriters and organizers were Flora Walker, Louise Campbell and Mary Simpson.
Narrator: Welcome to A Stroll through Time – Celebrating 190 years of Burns Presbyterian Church, Mosa. Over the next hour and a half, we want to take you back to some events which occurred in this congregation over our 190 years of existence. Although the events did happen, we have taken some liberty with the minor details. Our characters will surround you with their tales of joy and sorrow. Please sit back and relax and we will let our story begin.
The Old Log Church was replaced with the first “Brick” church but it was eventually replaced by the existing church in 1891 when it encountered structural difficulties after a heavy slate roof was added.
The history of Burns’ Presbyterian Church
Burns Church has deep roots in the traditions and values brought over by Scottish immigrants. Many of the pioneers who established the church originated from the Highlands of Scotland, particularly from Argyleshire. Their strong sense of faith and resilience, hallmarks of Highland character, guided them through the challenges of settling in Canada West in the early 19th century. These Scottish settlers arrived in the townships of Mosa, Metcalfe, Ekfrid, and Brooke, at a time when the land was still largely an unbroken forest. Despite the physical hardships of pioneer life, they carried with them a strong Presbyterian faith, holding regular meetings for prayer and worship, often in their homes or in the forests, before the establishment of a formal church.
By 1835-36, the community had built its first log church on what is now Kilmartin Cemetery grounds in Metcalfe Township. Though the church was incomplete and lacked doors, windows, or a roof, it became a place for gathering and worship. Despite the harsh conditions, the congregation remained devoted, listening to sermons on cold winter days while seated on rough wooden sleepers. As years passed, clergy such as Rev. Alexander Ross and Rev. Donald McKenzie occasionally visited, providing spiritual guidance and conducting services. These visits were cherished, and many traveled long distances through forests and swamps to participate, highlighting the central role religion played in the lives of the settlers.
In 1842, Rev. Duncan McMillan visited the area to perform baptisms and organize prayer meetings. It wasn’t until 1844 that the Mosa congregation was formally organized by the Presbytery of Hamilton. For several years, the congregation shared clergy with nearby Knox Church in Ekfrid. Services were initially held in barns and homes, notably the McLauchlin family barn, before another log church, known as “The Old Log Church,” was built around 1844.
Rev. Wm. R. Sutherland was ordained as the first permanent pastor in 1848, and the church flourished. He frequently traveled throughout the region to communities like Wardsville and Euphemia, to preach, marry couples, and baptize children. He travelled by horseback or on foot in all weather conditions.
The fourth building – Burns Presbyterian Church Mosa. Opened in 1891.
The following history is an excerpt from an old service bulletin and the author is unknown.
This church has been standing straight, fine and true for over one hundred and eighty years. It stands as a testament to the faith of those who built it, those who came to regular services, and to those who worked over the years to keep their church alive and active. But it is a symbol, not primarily of their strength and perseverance, but of the presence of God in their midst.
The first settler in this general area was Captain John Charlton in 1825. In 1829, Richard, Thomas, and Christopher Moyle and their families and Captain Christopher Beer established residences along the river in the Napier area. In 1831, Lieutenant Charles Preston and his family came from Cornwall in Upper Canada. Preston had been granted 100 acres when he commuted his pension for land. They settled on this property where St. Mary’s Church stands.
The first church services were held in Captain Christopher Beer’s house. Captain Beer’s rank gave him the privilege of conducting the first church services and first burials in the community. After the congregation became too large, they moved to the home of Captain Johnson. When the congregation became too large for his house, a school was built on this property in 1839 and used for church services. The log school was built on one acre of land donated by Charles Preston for a church and a cemetery. Preston also gave three acres of land for a rectory.
In 1841, the residents of the community sent a petition to the Bishop of Toronto requesting permission and assistance to build a church. The petitioners declared themselves to be generally poor and unable to pay for a frame church to be built but the increase in the congregation was such that the school was no longer large enough. Captain Beer had prepared some walnut lumber to use in building a new house. However, when the news came that a church could be built, he donated this lumber to the church and postponed construction of his own home. This gift, which represented a considerable sacrifice, was well used; the walnut was worked into pews, wainscotting and the chancel. It still stands here as a memorial to a man who loved his church and community.
In 1860, the church and cemetery were consecrated by the Right Reverend Benjamin Cronyn, the Bishop of Huron and the church officially received the name “St. Mary”. In Ireland, the Cronyn’s had attended St. Mary’s Church Kilkenny. This name linked the new land with the old.
The last regular weekly service was held on January 29, 1920 and annual services were initiated in the early 1930’s. We must be grateful to the residents of this area and especially to the Toohill family for their loving care of St. Mary’s Church. It is thanks to them that this oldest church building in Middlesex County still exists.
Farmer, writer, radical, sage: Re-introducing Peter McArthur
Peter McArthur’s Haunts – his farm, his grave, and back to the Archives.
June 16, 2024. 1:30 – 5:00 p.m.
A tour with three stops: Please park carefully. Bring a lawn chair. There is no rain date – check facebook Page for last minute instructions:
1:30 p.m. Peter McArthur’s Farm, 22517 McArthur Road, Southwest Middlesex.
2:30 p.m. Eddie Cemetery, 4490 Glendon Dr, Glencoe, ON N0L 1M0. Mr. McArthur’s grave.
3:30 p.m. The Archives, 178 McKellar St, Glencoe, ON N0L 1M0
Father’s Day afternoon. Bring Dad and Grandpa out for a trip down our local literary path. Get to know Peter McArthur. Who was this local writer that was famous across Canada.? He was a pal of the Prime Minister, had an amazing career in New York City and London England, and gave it up to came back to write in his cabin on the farm. That’s when he found his audience.
1:30 p.m. Peter McArthur’s Farm. 22517 McArthur Road, Southwest Middlesex. Carefully park along the road. Hosted by John Sinclair, current owner of the McArthur property. We’ll check out the new interpretive sign; listen to tales by Donny Sinclair; and learn about this famous writer’s life. We will coordinate our parking at Eddie Cemetery for the utmost safety.
2:30 p.m. Eddie Cemetery. We’ll jump in our cars and go a couple miles north to Mr. McArthur’s grave where the historical society has installed another commemorative panel. We’ll share some readings and pay tribute to a great Canadian writer. Please take your time to park carefully along the side of the road.
3:30 p.m. The Archives. Then we’ll go back to The Archives in Glencoe, drink coffee, learn about his family, and check out his books and memorabilia. Stephanie McDonald and Harold Carruthers will share more stories. We are hoping some of Mr. and Mrs. McArthur’s descendants will attend.
Fundraiser: We are fundraising to pay for the interpretive panels dedicated to the life work of Peter McArthur. Target is $750. Mark cheque “Peter McArthur” and mail it to G&DHS, 178 McKellar St, Glencoe, ON N0L 1M0 or bring it along June 16, 2024
“Although I have lived in far countries and great cities, no place ever was my home except this farm.”
“Something of this farm struck a tendril into my heart which neither time nor distance could break. It is the only spot on earth that ever gave me the feeling of home. … At all times it was my place of refuge, and, when I finally returned to it, it was with a feeling that my wanderings had ended, and that I could settle down and enjoy life where I belonged.”
Before the day of radio, TV, and the Internet, there were newspapers and pianos. Here is a song with lyrics by Peter and an illustration by the famous CW Jeffery. We’ll sing it together accompanied by Mirah Simpson, a descendant.To be Taken With Salt – by Peter McArthur.
Donny Sinclair – history keeper of the Peter McArthur legacyPeter McArthur and his cow
