[Illustration: MILL IN DEVON, ENG., IN 1897. USED AND OWNED BY ROGER CONANT PREVIOUS TO SAILING TO AMERICA WITH THE PILGRIMS IN 1623.] Upper Canada Sketches BY THOMAS CONANT With Illustrations, Portraits and Map TORONTO WILLIAM BRIGGS 29-33 RICHMOND ST. WEST 1898 Entered according to Act of the Parliament of Canada, in the year one thousand eight hundred and ninety-eight, by THOMAS CONANT, at the Department of Agriculture. To Thomas G. Milsted _Of Chicago, Ill., U.S._ A LARGE-HEARTED, FAITHFUL FRIEND AND PLEASANT COMPANION, UNDER EVEN THE MOST TRYING CIRCUMSTANCES; WHO SWAM IN THE DEAD SEA, ASCENDED THE NILE TO THE MAHDI’S CONFINES, AND LIKEWISE WITH ME KICKED PARIAH DOGS FROM OUR PATHS IN CONSTANTINOPLE, THIS VOLUME IS DEDICATED, WITH FULL RELIANCE IN THE HOPE THAT EXPATRIATED CANADIANS, WHO ARE SO VERY NUMEROUS IN THE UNITED STATES, MAY ENJOY WITH HIMSELF (LIKEWISE ONE OF THEM) THESE RANDOM CANADIAN SKETCHES. THE AUTHOR. CONTENTS. PAGE Prefatory Note vii CHAPTER I. Normandy--William the Conqueror--Origin of the name Conant--Devon, England--Sir Walter Raleigh’s home--Richard the Mill-owner--Roger the Pilgrim--The first Governor of Massachusetts--Salem, Massachusetts--Mill-owners 9 CHAPTER II. The American Revolution--Personal Rule of King George III.--Washington’s politeness--Valley Forge--Washington’s prayer--Raw New England levies--John Hancock--Other leaders and generals--Colonel Butler--Murder, not war--Roger Conant removes to Canada--An old deed--Governor Simcoe--York (Toronto) 21 CHAPTER III. A home in the wilderness--Salmon fishing--An idyllic life--Logging--Fur trade--Durham boats--Rapids of the St. Lawrence--Trading with the Indians--The Hudson’s Bay Company--_Coureurs du bois_--Maple sugar making--Friendly Indians 32 CHAPTER IV. Waubakosh--Making potash--Prosperous settlers--Outbreak of war of 1812--Transporting military supplies--Moode Farewell’s hotel--“Here’s to a long and moderate war”--A lieutenant’s misfortune--“Open in the King’s name”--Humors of the time--Ingenious foragers--Hidden specie--Hardships of the U. E. Loyalists 40 CHAPTER V.