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HENRY BARKLEY, a U. E. loyalist, came from the Mohawk Valley, and settled in concession 2, township of Williamsburg. His wife was Betsey Baker. CEPHRENUS CASSELMAN, a U. E. loyalist, held a captain's commission during the early part of the Revolutionary War. On account of his loyalty to the British he was put in jail and after his release he came to Canada, and settled in Williamsburg township. JOHN DEEKS was a soldier doing service under Wellington in the Peninsular War. In 1812 he came to Canada "a British Red-coat," and assisted in maintaining the supremacy of the Union Jack here. At the close of the war, he returned to the "old land," but a few years later again came to Canada and settled on lot 32, concession 2 Williamsburg. He married Catherine Merkley. NICHOLAS and PHILIP FRYMIRE both served in the King's Royal Regiment of New York, and after receiving their discharge came to Williamsburg township, Dundas county. Nicholas married Elizabeth Bourst, their family consisting of Conrad, Philip, Peter, Mary, Catherine, Nancy, and Betsey. JOHN GRAHAM was born in Dumfrieshire, Scotland, in 1812, coming to Canada in 1840. Some years later, he and his family settled in Matilda. He was one of the founders of the Presbyterian Church in Dixon's Corners. JAMES LOCKE was an early settler in central Matilda. His children were James, John, Stephen, Joseph, Sarah (Mrs. Isaac Keeler), Hannah (Mrs. Frederick Bouck), Rachel (Mrs. William Soules), Abby (Mrs. Skinner). JOHN MCINTOSH, born August 15, 1777, married Hannah Doran; their children being Lewis, David, Sally, Allen (a veteran of 1838), Margaret, Sophia, Fanny, John, Charlotte, and Alexander. Our subject was a farmer, living with his father in the valley of the Mohawk river. In 1801 he came to Canada, bought a farm along the St. Lawrence, a short distance west of the present Matilda gravel road. He later exchanged with Edmund Doran for the west half of lot 9, concession 5, Matilda, where he built a shanty and moved his family. At the time the road to the front was a circuitous track marked through the woods along the ridges. The first gospel ordinances in the vicinity were conducted by the venerable Mr. Sawyer, in the house of Mr. McIntosh, who also gave a portion of his house for a school-room during one winter before the erection of the historic log school-house there. PETER PRUNER was a resident of Schoharie before emigrating to Williamsburg township. He was a U. E. L.; was a volunteer during the war of 1812-1814, being present at the taking of Ogdensburg and the defeat of the Americans at Crysler's Farm. ZOPHER SKINNER settled along the St. Lawrence in Matilda. His wife was Abbey Locke. Their children were: James, Ormand, Joseph, Samuel, Charles, William, Mrs. McGriffith, Mrs. George W. Brouse, Mrs. Breckenridge, Sarah. The WELLS families are of American-Dutch descent. The original settler of this name in Dundas located in the Nudell Bush vicinity. His sons were John, Henry, George, and Cornelius. |