William Brownbridge and Elizabeth Metcalf

According to LDS documentation William (1814)and Elizabeth (1818) were both born in Masham, Yorkshire England. Elizabeth was born to a large family, many of whom immigrated to Canada. Her parents were Robert Metcalf and Elizabeth Cradock. Aunt Margaret's records indicate that William's father was also named William, but we have no other information about his family. Also, Elizabeth may have been called Nancy or Nan by her family.

William and Elizabeth arrived in Canada sometime before 1835 as all of their children were born in Canada. It is unknown where or when they were married. William was a shoemaker, which was a necessary trade in those days (more info here). He would have had a shop in his home and the family lived on a small farm, which provided for their growing family. The farm was located in Concession 8, lot 1, near the Gosford Church and cemetery which is south-west of the town of North Augusta (see maps). Local land records show that in 1850 William Brownbridge bought 50 acres from his brother-in-law, William Metcalf, for the sum of 125 pounds (he may have been renting the property before that). The last land records we found were for a Robert Brownbridge in the 1950s, so the property stayed in the family for over 100 years.

The 1851 census gives a fairly detailed picture of life for the family at that time. Of the 50 acres, 25 were "woods or wild", 16 (2 of these were orchard or garden) were "under crops" listed as oats, wheat, Indian corn, potatoes and turnips and 9 were pasture. They owned: 3 milk cows, 2 calves, 2 horses, 10 sheep and 3 pigs. Food stores were: a half pound of butter, 4 barrels or cwt. of beef and 3 of pork. They also possessed: 30 lbs of wool, 12 bundles or tons of hay, 20 lbs of maple sugar, 50 yards of flannel, 8 yds of cotton and 18 yds of linen (probably made from locally grown hemp). The family lived in a one story log house.

under construction...will be continued