Chisholm Family Farm House

Description

Comments (0)

Media Type

Image

Item Type

Photographs

Description

Chisholm family farm house showing Colonel Thomas Chisholm proudly wearing his former military uniform, Hornby.

Notes

Patricia King wrote to the EHS: The man identified as "Mr Chisholm" in this photo was my great grandfather. He was my father's (Kenneth Chisholm King) mother's (Mary Ann Chisholm - called "Annie") father. His name was actually Thomas Chisholm.
His father Thomas Chisholm Sr walked up from New York state in 1822 with his oldest son William. At that time Thomas Sr purchased Lots 3 & 4 in the 6th Concession, Esquesing for £30.00. Thomas Sr's wife, Elizabeth Stratson, and the rest of their children followed the next year in a covered wagon with a cow tethered behind.
Thomas Jr inherited the property in 1844 after his parents died and his two brother and three sisters married. At that point he married Anne Dempsey, presumably the woman pictured here.
Anne Dempsey was the eldest daughter of John Dempsey and Mary Cavanagh (married in Seagoe Parish Church of Ireland on 12th May 1814), three of the earliest settlers of the Milton area. They immigrated from Armagh, Ireland to Canada when Anne was age two. An account written by Frank Chisholm alleges they travelled from Muddy York to Oakville in a scow in 1819, and from there to their property at Lot 15, 2nd Concession, Trafalgar in a cart with wooden wheels. A different report in the Canadian Champion, July 7, 1938, page 2, states on June 20th, 1818, John Dempsey, with his family and four other families, travelled by stagecoach to Munn's Corners on the Dundas Highway. From there they walked north on a blazed trail through a wilderness of oak and pine until they reached the baseline between Trafalgar and Esquesing.
As for the uniform Thomas is wearing in this photo, he retired from the militia as a Colonel. His military career included fighting the Rebellion of 1837-1838 as one of the "Gallant Men of Gore" under Sir Allen McNabb. He was given charge of doing away with the American steamer "Caroline" which was carrying supplies to the rebels on Navy Island. The "Caroline" was sent over the falls without loss of life. The pride he attached to this service is apparent by the fact he felt it appropriate to wear his uniform when this photo was taken about 1882, twenty-two years after his service ended.

Date of Original

c1882

Subject(s)