Pam thanks so very much for the tidbits of info. I just luv to hear all these things. Gives one insight to the past and their experiences. xoxo Sandy Today's Topics: 1. news from the past and Marchburn Farm (Pam Tessier) Lt. George Wilson was a retired officer in the Royal Navy who owned Marchburn Farm in the Coldwater River Valley. Wilson was born in 1802 and died 27 October 1889. He settled about 1831 and later represented Medonte and Flos when the Simcoe District Council was established. In 1844 when Flos was represented separately, he continued to represent Medonte. His journals give us an idea of what our own Simcoe County ancestors experienced in those early days. The copies we have cover 1838, 1841, 1844, parts of 1849 and 1850. The numbers represent the day of the month. August 1838 3-Finished mowing. got all the hay secured in good order. 8-Cut down part of the barley at Hillside. A poor crop. 17-Cut down the pease. got them in good condition. 20-Commenced cutting down the wheat. a very good crop. August 1841 Much the same crops and activities as in 1838. August (no year recorded on this copy) Same crops as 1841. 23- Cut down the oats. A little frost at nights. Fine harvest weather. August 1844 1-We cup the first ripe melons. All the crops looking well excepting the turnips, they being cut off with the fly. 8-Making a few repairs in the saw-mill. 15-Sawing lumber for George Hallen. (Ed. Note: Rev. George Hallen was the early minister of the garrison church, St. James-on-the-Lines, Penetanguishene) 18-The wheat beginning to colour, the barley about ripe. The plums getting ripe. August 1849 1-Got the hay all in. Crop middling good. The longest continuation of dry weather since we came to the country, having been very little rain for nearly two months. Caterpillars swarming everywhere eating up everything in their way. 8-Some showers which has proved very serviceable to the potatoes. Commenced cutting the wheat. 15-I went to Orillia. 18-Returned. Very warm and dry. The Caterpillars have eaten the leaves of the wheat and the oats but the grain appears to be not all injured and is fine looking and plump. Employed cutting it down. 27-Came on to rain. The potatoes much improved by the late rains. George commenced building a lime kiln. Sowed 1 3/4 acres of fall wheat on new land. Pam Tessier Penetanguishene Museum