[Illustration: THOMAS CONANT.] [Illustration: LIFE IN CANADA by Thomas Conant, Author of “Upper Canada Sketches.” Toronto William Briggs 1903] Entered according to Act of the Parliament of Canada, in the year one thousand nine hundred and three, by THOMAS CONANT, at the Department of Agriculture. “_If a book comes from the heart, it will contrive to reach other hearts; all art and author’s craft are of small account to that._” Preface. In the following pages will be found some contributions towards the history of Canada and of the manners and customs of its inhabitants during the hundred years beginning October 5th, 1792. On that date my ancestor, Roger Conant, a graduate of Yale University, and a Massachusetts landowner, set foot on Canadian soil as a United Empire Loyalist. From him and from his descendants--handed down from father to son--there have come to me certain historical particulars which I regard as a trust and which I herewith give to the public. I am of the opinion that it is in such plain and unvarnished statements that future historians of our country will find their best materials, and I therefore feel constrained to do my share towards the task of supplying them. The population of Canada is but five and one-third millions, but who can tell what it will be in a few decades? We may be sure that when our population rivals that of the United States to-day, and when our numerous seats of learning have duly leavened the mass of our people, any reliable particulars as to the early history of our country will be most eagerly sought for. As a native resident of the premier Province of Ontario, where my ancestors from Roger Conant onwards also spent their lives, I have naturally dealt chiefly with affairs and happenings in what has hitherto been the most important province of the Dominion, and which possesses at least half of the inhabitants of the entire country. But I have not the slightest desire to detract from the merits and historical interest of the other provinces. THOMAS CONANT. OSHAWA, January, 1903. Contents. CHAPTER I. PAGE Roger Conant--His position in Massachusetts--Remained in the United States two years without being molested--Atrocities committed by “Butler’s Rangers”--Comes to Upper Canada--Received by Governor Simcoe--Takes up land at Darlington--Becomes a fur trader--His life as a settler--Other members of the Conant family 13 CHAPTER II.