A Genealogist's Path to History: Scottish Family Ties in Early Ontario

Saturday, 26 May 2018

Scottish Family Ties in Early Ontario

We talk about networking now but way back in the early days of Ontario the Scots had their own form of networks. They made use of relationships begun in Scotland to establish themselves in the new country. The Gilchrist family from Islay was a good example of this network in action.

James Gilchrist, wife Mary Hunter and their children made their way to Thorah when they first arrived in Upper Canada in 1853. Thorah was already an established settlement for Islay Scots who had been arriving there since 1831. Here the Gilchrists would have made a home among fellow Ileach and, perhaps, have taken over an ongoing farm from another family moving west.

By the mid 1880’s, as their children were starting families of their own, James and Mary made their own move to the west. They ended up in Grey county in the area of Sullivan township. Here too, Islay settlers had preceded them, one of whom was Neil Gilchrist, who had also immigrated from Islay in 1853. Neil was 67 when he immigrated and came from Glenegidale, Islay, where Mary Hunter, James’ wife had been raised. One of James and Mary’s sons, my great grandfather, farmed land with the same concession and lot number as the land owned by Neil Gilchrist in 1853 and, after his death, by Neil’s children. That looks like an intriguing connection which might perhaps lead to evidence of further family ties between the family lines of Neil Gilchrist, James Gilchrist and Mary Hunter.

As I pursue my research in Ontario, I look forward to finding out more about the Gilchrist family line. Who knows, I may find more evidence of Scottish family ties.