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By Dorothy Turcotte
Burlington Memories of Pioneer Days
CHISHOLM
When George Chisholm and his family immigrated to Upper Canada, they renewed friendships with Joseph Brant and John Graves Simcoe, whom they had met in the United States. George Chisholm and his brother John had emigrated from Inverness, Scotland, in 1773, settling in the Catskill Mountains of New York state. During the American Revolution, George fought with General Burgoyne's troops, thus making the acquaintance of Brant and Simcoe, who were also fighting for the Loyalists.
After the war Chisholm lived for a while in Nova Scotia. Then he decided to move his family to the Niagara area to be near his brother John. While working in Fort Erie, George became a close friend of another Loyalist immigrant, Charles King.
Looking for greener pastures, the two men agreed to look for land at the Head-of-the-Lake. In 1793 they purchased adjoining tracts from Dr. Robert Kerr. Chisholm's land stretched from the King property on the west to Joseph Brant's land on the east. The Chisholm house, nostalgically named Inverness, was built just east of King Road on Plains Road and remained there until the fall of 1987.
At the time of the move Chisholm and his wife, Barbara, had five children: Mary Christina, 11; John, 9; William, 6; Barbara, 3; and George, 1. A year later twin girls completed their family.
George Chisholm soon became involved in local affairs. When Simcoe, then governor of Upper Canada, passed through the area, he appointed Chisholm magistrate. In 1797 he was a commissioner of the first bridge built over the Old Outlet on the beach, and the same year he was a commissioner for the final purchase of Brant's Block from the Mississauga Indians. Completion of this sale meant that the Chisholm family's new neighbour was their old friend Joseph Brant. Both Chisholm and Brant were Freemasons and were early members of Barton Lodge, Hamilton.
When the War of 1812 began, Chisholm and all three of his sons enlisted. Although 60 years of age, George Chisholm was a valiant soldier at the Battle of Queenston Heights. The three Chisholm sons had as much grit as their father. Each one led an interesting life.
John, the eldest, was something of a phenomenon. Educated at the common school in East Flamborough, he was proprietor of a tavern at the Old Outlet at the beach when he was only 17 years old. Before long he had expanded his business interests to include the importing and forwarding of goods from this strategic location. His store there may have been the first post office in Nelson Township. John was also the collector of customs for the Port of Burlington. His holdings expanded further in 1816 when he acquired land at Indian Point from his friend John Brant.
Shortly after the Burlington Canal was cut through the Beach Strip, John Chisholm petitioned the Township of East Flamborough for compensation for loss of business, saying, "... since the passing of the Act of the Legislature for constructing the Burlington Canal, the usual flow of water which formerly passed through the Original Outlet finds its way through the Canal, in consequence of which the Original Outlet has completely shut up, thusly rendering the property of your Petitioner of little or no value."
John's business dealings undoubtedly brought him into frequent contact with the Gage family at the Stoney Creek store, and thus also with the Davis family. At any rate, in 1803 he married William Davis's daughter, Sarah, and they took up residence at the store at the beach.
John and Sarah's daughter Hannah married Hiram Smith. This young man and Hannah's brother, Andrew, continued the business partnership of Joel Smith and John Chisholm. In 1834 Hiram made a trip to establish business contacts in Brockville, Montreal and Oswego. His overtures were well received, and the expanded business was launched. In 1837 the firm of Smith and Chisholm was granted a license "to have and use One Still, for the purpose of distilling spirituous liquors, containing thirty Gallons, and no more." For many years the store and warehouse of Smith and Chisholm were busy centres of commercial activity in Wellington Square.
When Andrew Chisholm's property was put up for sale in October 1873, it was described as follows in The Canadian Champion:
"For Sale at Wellington Square, 475 acres of land with magnificent residence known as the Andrew Chisholm or Swinyard Place. Fronting on Lake Ontario, one minute walk of the Post Office, Telegraph Office, wharf and business part of the village. House thoroughly remodeled throughout, over one and a half acres of ground nicely laid out in lawns, ornamental and fruit trees, vegetable and fruit garden, driving house, stables etc. The Farm contains 475 acres of choice land fronting on Lake Ontario opposite the Burlington Canal at the junction of Burlington Beach with the mainland. (A part of the Brant Farm.) It is immediately at the Wellington Square station of the Hamilton and Northwestern Railway... Farm to be sold in bloc or one or more farms, in a high state of cultivation, well-fenced, nicely watered, several spring creeks, 2 mammoth barns with stone basements, 2 small houses for workmen, large young orchard, 2000 apple, 1600 pear, several hundred peach, plum, cherry, some already bearing, also 100 acres in E. Flamborough about three miles from Wellington Square, 40 acres cleared and fenced, 20 of which are planted with fruit trees.
signed Benj. Eager"
William Chisholm, the second son, moved to the village of Nelson, where he became a successful merchant. He bought wheat and timber, and also made barrel staves of white oak, which were shipped from the Old Outlet. William became known as "Whiteoaks" Chisholm, a name that later went with him to Oakville. In 1820 he was elected to the House of Assembly of Upper Canada as the member for Halton East. He also owned a shipyard on the bay and by 1827 owned five sailing vessels, including the first to sail through the new Burlington Canal in 1826. At the same time, he was one of the commissioners of the Burlington Canal, and later of the Welland Canal, as well.
William Chisholm's keen interest in shipping led him to recognize the potential of the natural harbour at the mouth of Sixteen Mile Creek. When Indian land in this area was auctioned in 1827, William purchased 960 acres for $4,116 and became the founder of the town of Oakville.
As colonel of the 2nd Regiment of Gore Militia, William Chisholm sent out the call for volunteers to go to Chippewa at Christmas 1837. His letter dated December 23 to Captain Hiram Smith is quoted from Oakville and the Sixteen:
"Sir
You are directed to ascertain without delay what number of volunteers you can raise to meet at Wellington Square by 7 o'clock on the morning of the 25th instant to proceed under the command of Capt. Chalmers to join the detachment proceeding with Colonel McNab to the Lines — It is expected that such only as are active efficient men, and can leave home without great inconvenience are to go — Such as have Queens Arms and Accoutrements and do not go are to deliver them to those who do — You will also provide teams to carry such as go who will be paid at Twenty Shillings p' diem.
W. Chisholm Col. 2d RGM"
The response to this call was excellent. Twelve local citizens provided sleighs, including Thomas Atkinson, the Pearts, the McGregors, the Pettits, the Bastedos, Joseph Ireland, the McCarleys, and Colonel Chisholm himself. Among the 100 volunteers who made the journey to Chippewa on that Christmas Day were Benjamin Tuck, Joseph Tansley, John Atkinson, Stephen Atkinson, Joseph Pickett, William Easterbrook, Thomas Atkinson Jr., Thomas Tansley, Sam McGregor, William Bastedo, James Coulson, John Easterbrook, Richard Dalton, D. Patrick McGregor, Jacob Bastedo, John Chisholm, David Bastedo, Andrew Davidson, David Davidson, William Williamson, John Williamson, William Blanchard and John Smith.
George Chisholm Jr., the youngest son, married one of Robert Land's granddaughters, Elizabeth McCarter, and remained on the family farm with his parents. However, his life was far from dull. He fought at Queenston Heights with his father and brothers. A staunch Tory, he helped to quell the Rebellion of 1837.
George Jr. was one of those who witnessed the burning of the American ship Caroline on December 29, 1837. The steamer had been carrying men and supplies across the Niagara River to assist the rebels. A Canadian party, including Chisholm and Captain Edward Zealand of Hamilton, crossed the river, cut the ship adrift, set fire to it, and watched it break up before plunging over the Falls in burning sections. This act of bravado nearly precipitated an international incident.