History of the settlement of Upper Canada (Ontario,): with special reference to the Bay QuintéCanniff, William
History
History of the settlement of Upper Canada (Ontario,): with special reference to the Bay Quinté
Canniff, William
Ontario -- History; Quinte, Bay of (Ont.)
The increasing population around the Bay, caused the authorities to seek
a proper site for a second mill. The Napanee River, with its natural
falls, offered an advantageous place upon which to erect a second mill
for the settlers, upon the Bay. We have been fortunate, through the
kindness of Mr. P. Clark, of Collinsby, in being permitted to examine an
account book kept by Robert Clark, the millwright, of both the Kingston
and Napanee mills. By this, we learn that in the year 1785, Robert
Clark, who had completed the Kingston Mill, removed to the second
township, and, according to instructions received from Government,
proceeded to construct a mill upon the Napanee River, at the site of the
natural falls. In the absence of the full particulars relating to the
building of the Napanee Mills, the following cannot fail to be of
interest. In the account book aforementioned, the following references
to the building of the mill, are found recorded:
“An accompt of articles bought for the use of the works, November 8.”
“To 4 Augers of different size, from Mr. Phillips, carpenters at
Catariqui, 13s, 8d. To 3 quires of Writing Paper, 5s. December 6, To 20
lbs. of Nails, £1; December 22, To 6 Whip Saw Files, 3s. 9d.” Omitting
some items, and coming to March 23, 1786, we find “For Raising the Saw
Mill,” “2 gallons and 3 pints of Rum, 17s. 6d.” “April 20th, To 1 quart
of Rum, 2s.” On the “25th May, To 4 gallons and 1 quart of Rum, for
Raising the Grist Mill, at 7s. 6d.” The “26th, To 1 quart of Rum for the
People at work in the water at the Dam.” By this we learn the day upon
which the Napanee mill was erected. On the 20th July, Government is
again charged with “3 pints of Rum for raising the fender-post,” &c. On
the 27th, a pint was again required, but for what special purpose is not
mentioned. In December, 1786, we find “To making Bolt Cloth 15s.” “To
Clearing one acre and three-quarters of Land for a mill, at seven
dollars per acre, £3.” And we find that the iron or smith work for the
mill was done by David Palmer and Conly. From the fact that the bolting
cloth was not made until December, 1786, we may infer that the mill did
not commence operations until the beginning of 1787. The mill was a
great boon to the inhabitants around the Bay Quinté, not only because
they had a shorter distance to travel, but the amount of work pressing
upon the Kingston mill, made it very uncertain as to the time one would
have to wait, to get his gristing done. Consequently many came from the
Lower Bay, and the dwellers upon the South Bay in Marysburg, who
followed the shores around Indian Point and up the Bay Quinté. To those
living in Thurlow, Sidney, and at the Carrying Place, the mill was a
great blessing.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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