This year I've decided to participate in the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks project. The topic for week 1 is Foundations. The word foundation applies to my 5x great grandfather Archibald Thomson in so many ways.
He’s the foundation of my family in Canada and indeed North America. Archibald was born in Westerkirk, Dumfriesshire, Scotland on 22 Jan 1747. He initially settled in New York State, emigrating from Scotland in 1773. I’ve written about his decision to stay loyal to the British crown in an earlier post, you can read this story here. He first petitioned for land in Kingston in 1790, becoming the earliest settler in Canada in my family.
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| Library and Archives Canada, Upper Canada Land Petitions "T" Bundle Misc. RG 1 L3 Vol 511 |
While in Kingston Archibald was a model citizen, part of the foundation of this young community. He was granted town lots 34 and 35 in Kingston and subsequently was granted a water lot to build a wharf. In 1791 he is mentioned by the Upper Canada Land Board in regards to the land petition of John Catin who was previously refused land on the suspicion of his being a disorderly character. On 14 Dec 1791 the board heard that he had been in the employ of Archibald for a year and had behaved in an orderly, sober and industrious manner. Archibald also engaged to put of a house for him on the lot. The land was granted him accordingly.
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| Library and Archives Canada, Upper Canada Land Board Dec 14 1791 p.333 Vol. 7 |
And this brings to another way in which Archibald is a foundation - he was a master carpenter. He was involved in other projects besides helping Mr. Catin and erected a wharf. His biggest endeavour was to act as the general contractor and carpenter on the first church in Kingston - Old St. George’s, erected in 1792. This was the oldest Anglican parish in Ontario founded in 1785. According to "The Parish Register of Kingston Upper Canada 1785-1811" on January 9 1792 Archibald was retained to construct the church. His account totalled £113, 7, 3.
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| The Parish Register of Kingston Upper Canada 1785-1811 A.H.Young 1921 |
Not only did Archibald build the church, but his family attended the church and he served as vestry man and warden. Archibald also was a benefactor donating £2 to the church. It is worth noting that the Thomson family were staunch Presbyterians. However, at this point in time only Anglican churches were available. The Reverend John Stuart was the minister at the Kingston church and a fellow Loyalist. It is possible they were acquainted during their time in NY state and involvement with the Mohawk nation. In 1825 construction began on a new church. I haven’t been able to determine what happened to the original church; it was likely demolished.
The Thomsons owned property and resided in Fredericksburg Township and the town of Newark (now Niagara on the Lake) before moving to the town of York. There they would have encountered Reverend Stuart’s son George Okill Stuart who had been appointed minister of St. James Church. He was appointed in 1801 and the original church was begun in 1807 and completed in 1809. There he married Archibald’s daughter Elizabeth in 1806 and baptized her daughter Mary in 1808.
Finally Archibald was the foundation of the Thomson family in Canada. Archibald was the second oldest of 8 children born to Andrew Thomson and Jannet Scott. His older brother William remained in Westerkirk but Archibald was followed to North American by his younger brothers Andrew and David. In 1796 he petitioned the Crown for land for his brothers as he had become accomplished in the process. The Petition notes that the family is on their way from Britain
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| Library and Archives Canada Upper Canada Land Petitions "T" Bundle 2 1796-1797 RG1 L 3 Volume 495 |
The brothers initially settled in the town of York then moved further east to settle in the new area of Scarborough. David and his family became the first family to settle in Scarborough and he and his wife Mary are commonly known as the mother and father of Scarborough. Once the Thomsons settled in Scarborough they donated land on which St. Andrew’s Church was erected in 1818, the first Presbyterian Church erected in Scarborough. Archibald died in 1819 and is buried at St. Andrews with his wife Elizabeth and his brothers.
