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16 - The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday February 16, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com The history of the Amos Biggar House Dundas Street, originally known as `The Governor's Road', was the inland route proposed in 1793 by Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe for military purposes. It was intended to provide for the safe transport of supplies and troops as a protection against possible invasion from the south. The road was little more than a trail, needing constant maintenance. To encourage new settlement and to maintain the road, the Crown acquired a tract of land from the Mississauga Indians in 1806. The area was surveyed by Deputy Provincial Surveyor Samuel Wilmot into three townships, one of which was Trafalgar Township. Using Dundas Street as a baseline, the land was divided into concessions 1 1/5 miles apart and into 200 acre lots and with a regulation sixty-six foot wide roadway. Settlers were obliged to clear five acres, fence in their lots, and build a house usually a log cabin made of the trees that were cut down. If the lot bordered the road, trees would have to be cleared within one hundred feet of the road, and landowners were responsible for making improvements to the road. The 1806 Wilmot Survey shows the early settlers who signed a Condition of Settlement. including Daniel Shannon who signed for Lot 20, 1st Concession , South Side of Dundas Street. Acquisition of the lot was completed in 1808 presumably on meeting all of the conditions. At this time, there were thirty-three landowners in total. In 1815, the property was sold to Amos Biggar whose family were United Empire Loyalists. His father, John Biggar and mother Jemima Pettit moved from Bethlehem, New Jersey to Upper Canada and settled in Saltfleet Township in 1791. John was active in local affairs and like other Loyalists, he and his sons served in the war of 1812 with the West Lincoln Regiments. Amos is listed on the roll of the 5th Lincoln Militia when it was first established. In April 1816. It is believed that he built the central portion of the house at 502 Dundas Street West. The house is considered to be a fine example of a Loyalist farmstead. The original section features narrow weatherboard siding, multi paned windows, and a classically inspired doorway. The house was enlarged with additions to either side of the house, possibly made by the next owner, Phillip L. Box who purchased the farm in 1843. Amos' brothers Charles and James also owned nearby lots in the Township. In the 1817 statistical survey by Robert Gourlay, the three brothers were among landowners who responded to the survey. As an indication of the growth of the area, they reported that the population totaled 548 and that there were 97 houses, three schools, four taverns, one grist mill and four saw mills. They were very forthright in their appraisal of what improvements were needed which alarmed government authorities who arrested Robert Gourlay and suppressed the survey until 1822. By the 1820s, Dundas Street was the main east west route between Toronto and Dundas. Traffic had increased considerably and there were links to the lake ports to expedite the export of farmer's produce. By this time there was a regular stage coach service providing mail delivery and the opening of many taverns and inns to accommodate travelers. Amos Biggar was included in the first census in Ontario in 1841 taken at a time when Upper Canada became Canada West. He is listed as a 'farmer, proprietor of Lot 20, 1st Concession, S.D.S., self, wife and eight children born in Canada'. The house and the area has two associations with the Rebellion of 1837 and is one of the few homes that remain in Trafalgar Township from that period. After the failure of the uprising at Montgomery's Tavern in Toronto, William Lyon MacKenzie used Dundas Street as his escape route to Niagara. He would have passed directly by the house. There are several colourful accounts of his travel through Trafalgar Township, but it is believed that he stayed in the nearby Village of Sixteen Hollow before continuing his flight and may have hid out at a neighbouring farm. William Pettit who owned the neighbouring farm and brother of Jonathan who would purchase the Biggar house, were United Empire Loyalists. Following the Rebellion, as a prominent Tory, William chaired a meeting of local farmers gathered to protest a bill to compensate losses in Quebec. With Loyalist sympathies, they were outraged at the prospect of people being compensated who may have participated in the Rebellion against the Crown. In 1903, George King, an area farmer purchased the property. He moved with his wife from Toronto to Trafalgar Township around 1890. They had nine children all of whom lived on the farm at one time. The King family sold the farm to Harriet Pierce Bunting in 1936 who sold the property in 1949 to Taymouth Industries Limited. Continued on Page11 Congratulations to all those who contributed to the Heritage of our Community. BROWN M P, OAKVILLE Bonnie Phone: 905-827-2077 Fax: 905-827-7516 e-mail: brownb@parl.gc.ca LOOK FOR THE OAKVILLE BEAVER'S INAUGURAL EDITION OF `FAMILY LIFE' IN TODAY'S PAPER! Celebrating Ontario's first ever Family Day! This fun and comprehensive magazine is your guide to enjoying Family Day in Oakville! Filled with useful information on sports and recreation, arts and culture, local attractions and featured stories on local families... Discover Oakville with the help of our `Family Life' magazine, this February 18th!