Hi Bonnie; My site has an 1865 directory of Grey Co. that includes an early history and info. on early roads. See http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~wjmartin/greypref.htm and read through it. See also early immigrant info. in books from 1822 at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~wjmartin/emig1822.htm and 1833 at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~wjmartin/emigrant.htm which could have helped encourage their immigration to Ontario. Bill. >______________________________ > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Subject: > Early travel to St. Vincent / Meaford > From: > "Bonnie Anderson" <bonma@rogers.com> > Date: > Mon, 20 Mar 2006 20:15:04 -0500 > To: > CAN-ONT-GREY-L@rootsweb.com > > To: > CAN-ONT-GREY-L@rootsweb.com > > > Re: news item of about 1926 from Shelley in BC > > About Laurence Bowes - "Born in Ireland, he came to Canada at the age > of 8 with his parents and made the trip to Meaford with oxen." > > If Lawrence was 84 in 1926, that means he arrived about 1840. An > early 1841 Ontario map show two small settlements near Meaford, while > the majority of settlement was shown farther south along the Great > Lakes. My great great grandfather came from Scotland to St. Vincent > Township about 1832. I often wondered what lured him there and how he > got there. I have discussed it with other genealogists and have > developed a few theories. > > 1. They came by boat via the great lakes and Lake St. Clair. > 2. They travelled along Yonge St., the road built in 1796 under the > orders of Lord Simcoe for the transport of troops to Lake Simcoe. > Thus, it would be possible to travel along Yonge to Lake Simcoe and > then by water to Meaford / St. Vincent Township in 1832. I know John > Vail arrived by boat and settled there in 1824. > > I have read the history of Yonge street which mentions the lure of > furs, but there must have been other reasons for settlers to travel so > far to such an undeveloped area. He married a Scottish lady there in > 1838 and then ended up in Toronto by 1840 where his first daughter was > born. He was from urban Scotland. > > I am interested in hearing from someone who knows the history of > settlement in the area to tell me what attracted people there and what > route would have been used in 1832. > > Bonnie (Acheson) Anderson > Kitchener, Ontario > bonma@rogers.com > ______________________________ Regards, Bill Martin, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. email bmartin@tbaytel.net http://my.tbaytel.net/bmartin/