Background Information....
The Shoemaker....
William, Richard's father, was first a shoemaker by trade until about 1864. Perhaps he handed his trade and tools over to Richard at that time. John Wallace, Christianne's father, was also a shoemaker. Richard worked as a shoemaker until he became a hotel keeper (manager) round 1890.
View pictures of the shoemaking process (from the Canadian History exhibits at the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Hull, Quebec.
Immigration and Adventure....
In the 1830s there was a large-scale immigration to Canada from Britain and Ireland. These immigrants hoped to build a new life for themselves and escape the religious and class restrictions of their homeland. They used the freedom they gained in Canada to start their own farms or businesses. However, they soon discovered they had little political say. The British government made decisions that affected the new Canadians with out consulting them.
This lead to a short lived rebellion in 1837-38. The result of this rebellion and the subsequent investigation by Lord Durham was that the British government gave the settlers in Canada self-rule, with the union of Upper and Lower Canada in 1840.
Collections Canada information on British immigration.
It is highly probable that William and his Metcalf in laws were a part of this immigration wave. Perhaps they were even involved in the rebellion. What is certain is that William and Elizabeth lived to see the birth of a new country with Confederation in 1867 and their children were truly first generation Canadians.
The Towns....
The Ontario business and community directories from the mid to late 1800s provide a good deal of information about the towns where Richard and Christianne lived. (Go to the Sources page to view some of the actual documents under Other Documentation.)
Easton's Corners (1888-9)....
"A village in Wolford tp, Grenville Co, 25 miles north of Brockville, the county seat, and 3 east of Irish creek, on the B br CP Ry, its nearest railway point. Smith's Falls is the nearest banking point. It contains Episcopal and Methodist churches and a public school. Stage daily to Merrickville and Irish creek. fares 50c and 25c repectfully. Population, 200. Telegraph G N W. Mail daily. E H Talman, postmaster." Eastern Ontario Gazetteer and directory
There are 18 business listings, including Brownbridge, Richard, shoemaker. The family lived here from at least 1869 (John Duncan's birth record) to 1890/91.
Frankville (1895)....
"A village in Kitley township, Leeds county, 18 miles north of Brockville, the county seat, nearest bank and railway point. Smith's Falls is the nearest banking point. It contains Meth and Anglican churches and a public school. Stage daily to Brockville. Pop 200. Tel G N W. Mail daily. G M Leverette p m." Eastern Ontario Gazetteer and directory
In 1894 there were 18 business listings, including Brownbridge R, hotel (Brownbridge is misspelled in the 1895 listing) and the population is listed as 250. Richard and Christianne lived in Frankville from about 1890 to 1900.
Lyndhurst (1898-9)....
"A village in Landsdowne tp, Leeds Co., 27 miles w of Brockville, the county seat, and 15 n of Gananoque, on the GT R, the nearest railway and banking point. It contains Anglican, Pres and Meth churches and schools. Tel G N W. Mail daily. Telephone connection. Pop about 225. Annie Green, p m." Eastern Ontario Gazetteer and directory
There are 21 business listings. Richard and Christianne moved there around 1901 to run the Riverside House hotel. Sometime before 1911 Richard retired and they moved to Brockville to live with Claude.