150th Anniversaries for Melbourne, Cleveland and Ulverton Townships. 1855-2005

“The Township of Melbourne celebrated its 150th anniversary on July 1, 2005 at the annual Ice Cream Social of Richmond County Historical Society at the Upper Melbourne Town Hall Market site. The newly renovated museum was open to the public as well as the Archives Center which is located in the Town Hall. An exhibition of panels displayed historic photographs and information about the history of Melbourne Township, for example, the names of Mayors and Secretary-Treasurers (1855- 2005) which are included below, as well as the list of Grantees, Land Grant Records of Melbourne Township, 1805”.

“Mayors of Melbourne Township 1855 – 2005

“List of Grantees: Land Grant Records Canton de Melbourne

érigé le avril 1805, Reg. B, Grants, folio 363

“Secretary Treasurers of Melbourne Township 1855 – 2005

British Heritage in the Richmond-Drummond Area

The theme for the summer of 2003 was British heritage in Richmond and Drummond Counties. The theme focused on two groups of settlers; Yorkshire, England settlers, c. 1830 and disbanded British soldiers, War of 1812-14. The former group settled in the Trenholm area and the second group received grants of land in Drummond County, particularly Grantham and Wickham Townships.

Yorkshire, England Settlers

What do these names have in common?
Armatage*
Bilton
Boast*
Dresser
Dyson*
Hall*
Harriman*
Lee
Swinburne
Taylor
Trenholm*
Ward
and many more.

Answer: Yorkshire, England
*Hive, North Cave, Yorkshire

On August 17, 2003, special displays of family history pertaining to the Hall and Armatage families were presented by Norma Lester and Lucy Taylor. A wealth of information, photographs and memorabilia about the Yorkshire families exists in the personal archives of these two ladies. The Society extends a sincere thank you to Mrs. Lester and Mrs. Taylor for their willingness to participate and their excellent displays.

Disbanded British Soldiers, War of 1812-14
Following the War of 1812-14, Maj.- Gen. Frederick George Heriot brought many of the discharged British soldiers with him to settle in Drummond County, particularly in Grantham and Wickham Townships. These soldiers who had been garrisoned in Quebec City chose to accept land instead of returning to Great Britain after the war. Heriot who founded Drummondville in 1815 was a distinguished veteran of this conflict having served in battles in Upper Canada, including Chrysler’s Farm (Morrisburg, Ontario area)

On August 6, 2003 the Society organized a Drummondville Tour which gave the participants an opportunity to use the Drummondville Registry Office to search for records of the Heriot’s soldiers and to visit St. George’s (Anglican) Church and cemetery where Heriot is buried. A special thanks is due to Mr. Barry Husk and Ms. Brenda Lee LeBlanc for the church and cemetery tour and an opportunity to visit the Drummondville Historical Society.

The following is a sample of the names of the some of the soldier-settlers who received grants of land which were registered on May 24, 1822: (Later these names are found in Durham – Ulverton and L’Avenir).

On Highway 116 , near L’Avenir is a shrine which commemorates the British soldiers who settled in Wickham in 1815. The inscription reads as follows:

Wickham and St. Peter’s Shrine
1848-1948

In this site of Wickham Township settled in 1815 by a group of soldiers under Frederick George Heriot, with a chapel and an adjoining cemetery, was dedicated to St. Peter by Rev. Hugh Paisley, missionary, December 25, 1831.

Commission des Monuments,
Historique du Quebec

Sources of Information:

RCHS Archives

• Census Records, 1851-61 Shipton, Melbourne, Drummond
• Family Histories
• Military history of Richmond
• St. Amant’s book

Drummondville

• Drummondville Historical Society
• Registry Office
• St. George’s Anglican Church

Last updated June 2009.