Historical Timeline of Rideau Township

1783

(Sept. 3) Signing of the “Treaty of Paris,” ending the American revolutionary war. Acceptance of the border between Canada and the U.S. from the Atlantic Ocean to Lake of the Woods.

Approx. 40,000 United Empire Loyalists from the Thirteen Colonies start immigrating to Canada. Most settle in Nova Scotia, Quebec, and New Brunswick (established as a colony separate from Nova Scotia in 1784). Three thousand Black Loyalists settle near Shelburne, Nova Scotia.

1788

The government of the Province of Quebec (pre-cursor to Upper Canada, Province of Canada and Ontario) begins creating Districts and Counties to serve administrative needs at the local level.

1790

Roger Stevens becomes the first white settler on the future route of the Rideau Canal when he builds a homestead and mill on the north side of main branch of the Rideau River east of current day Merrickville.

1791

Colonel Stephen Burritt and his wife Martha (daughter of Roger Stevens) settle a mile west of the Stevens homestead. They would be the founders of current day Burritt's Rapids.

Captain Theodore Christian de Pencier commences survey of Marlborough Township.

Passing of the Constitutional Act (CA), dividing the British colony of the Province of Quebec into two separate provinces, Lower Canada (Quebec) and Upper Canada (Ontario), with the Ottawa River forming part of the border. The Act was passed by the British Parliament in response to the large numbers of United Empire Loyalists seeking refuge,

The creation of Upper Canada was in response to the desire expressed by recently arrived United Empire Loyalist settlers for British institutions and laws, especially British laws of land tenure.

Under the CA the right to vote was distributed more broadly, and did not specifically exclude women. In LC, this enabled women who owned property to vote, as women’s property and inheritance rights were determined by the “Custom of Paris,” by which property was shared between husbands and wives. However, in UC women were subject to English Common Law, and were therefore excluded from voting under the CA

1792

William Merrick, a millwright and Loyalist from Massachusetts, settles at the current site if Merrickville.

1793

Roger Stevens and William Merrick travel down the Rideau River to the Ottawa River to investigate the potential for a mill site. On the return trip they detour into what is now called Steven's Creek, where Roger Stevens drowns under uncertain (and somewhat mysterious) circumstances.

1794

First survey, outlining the boundaries of North Gower Twp. and some interior lines is undertaken; however, the township would not be fully surveyed until 1824.

1800

The new District of Johnstown comes into effect, creating Carleton County from portions of Dundas and Grenville counties, including the Townships of Marlborough, North and South Gower, Oxford, Wolford and Montague.

1802

Marlborough Twp has a population of 85.

1811

John Thompson and family are the first settlers in North Gower. They raised the first barn in the Township in 1826, and also opened a blacksmith shop, making farm implements.

1813

The British government begins actively (if informally) recruiting (skilled) British citizens to emigrate to and settle in Upper Canada in order that, “the male population might be valuable both for the present defense and future protection of Upper Canada by offering to them grants of land in that province and a free passage for themselves and their families”.

1815

First settlers (John O’Callaghan and his wife Ellen O’Connor) arrive in vicinity of Kars.

1818

Work begins on the first “official” road in Carleton County, Richmond Road, from Chaudiere Flats to the military settlement of Richmond.

1820s

Lumbering was the main reason for early settlement in North Gower. The banks of the Rideau had fine stands of lumber, and there were no restrictions or fees related to cutting.

1821-22

The first non-indigenous settlers to enter North Gower Township to stay were Stephen Blanchard, Sebra Beaman & Richard Garlick. All of United Empire Loyalist stock, and all engaged principally in lumbering, Blanchard and Beaman settled in and around North Gower Village, while Garlick settled on the Rideau just south of the current village of Kars.vicinity of Kars and commences logging and lumbering along Stevens Creek and the Rideau.

Richard Garlick is associated with a number of “1sts” in the Twp, including:

Building the first school in Rideau Twp, and 18’x18’ log trough-roofed structure;
Clearing the first road, following Stevens Creek, then north toward Rickmond.
Building and operating the first steamer on the Rideau, the “Bytown” launched at the mouth of Stevens Creek.
Operating the first public-house.

While considered the founder of Kars, Richard Garlick and his family left the area around 1863.

1822

Moss Kent Dickinson, destined to be co-founder of Manotick, is born in Denmark, New York. He is descended from the Mayflower pilgrims.

1823

A number of Eastman families begin farming near the location of Stephen Blanchard. These, along with f few other who settled over the next couple of years, form the nucleus of what will become North Gower Village.

1826

Population of Marlborough and North Gower = 367

Construction begins on the Rideau Canal under the supervision of Lieutenant-Colonel John By of the Royal Engineers. Completed in 1832.

1829

First Church of England services held in Kars, at the home of John Eastman.

1830

First school built in North Gower.

1831

Terence Smythe builds the first grist mill at Burritt’s Rapids, producing corn meal, oat meal and wheat flour.

Erection of the first church in Marlborough (Christ Church, Anglican) at Burritt’s Rapids.

1832

Completion of the Rideau Canal. The first full steamboat transit is made by Colonel By in May aboard the “Rideau” nicknamed “Pumper,” and owned by Robert Drummond.

Wharf built at Kars by James Lindsay.

Population of North Gower = 245

Population of Marlborough = 445

1833

The first commercial forwarding business is established to provide regular steamboat service between Montreal and Kingston by way of Bytown.

A settlement begins to develop at Long Island Locks consisting largely of workers involved in building the Rideau Canal, completed in 1832.

1834

Population of North Gower = 312

Population of Marlborough = 623

1838

The formation of the new District of Dalhousie includes the townships of Marlborough and North Gower.

1839

Post Office opens in Burritt’s Rapids.

Population of North Gower = 464

Population of Marlborough = 742

1840

The British “Act of Union” unites Upper (Canada West) and Lower (Canada East) Canada into a single political entity, the Province of Canada, effective 1841.

1846

Bylaw passed authorizing the construction of the “Prescott Coach Road,” the original route to Prescott, and what is now Bank St.

Post Office opens in North Gower Village.

1849

Passage of the Baldwin Act/Municipal Corporations Act, by which the Province of Canada abolished Districts, replacing them with Counties. The County of Carleton would include the former Dalhousie District, of which Marlborough and North Gower are part.

A site named the “Village of Long Island” is surveyed by Robert Bell.

1850

Joseph Merril Currier and Moss Kent Dickinson become business partners in lumbering. They will be the first to manufacture sawn lumber for shipment to the Boston market.

1851

First census of Upper and Lower Canada, as well as New Brunswick and Nova Scotia conducted.:

Canada West (Ontario) = 952,004
Canada East (Quebec) = 890,261
New Brunswick = 193,800
Nova Scotia = 276,854
Total = 2,312,919

Canada issues its first postage stamp, designed by Sandford Fleming.

1852

Adam Johnston Eastman builds the first steam sawmill in the township near the mouth of Stevens Creek at Kars. By 1865 this mill will produce 3 million board feet of lumber yearly.

1854

A post office is established at the village of Long Island Locks.

The first train (Bytown & Prescott Railway) arrives in Ottawa from Prescott (84 km).

1855

Bytown is renamed Ottawa.

1856

Post Office opened at Kars. James Lindsay is the first postmaster.

1857

Ottawa becomes the new capital of the United Province of Canada, as chosen and declared by Queen Victoria.

Completion of a site plan for the village of Kars. Originally known as “Wellington Village” the name Kars was chosen to commemorate the Canadian-born General William Fenwick Williams who had defended the town of Kars, Turkey during a siege by the Russians in the Crimean war in 1855.

1858

New weir and bulkhead constructed across the west branch of the Rideau River at the present site of Manotick.

Joseph Merril Currier and Moss Kent Dickinson lease water rights on the west branch of the Rideau from the Crown for $50 per year. They also purchase land on both sides of the river for establishing their Long Island Milling Enterprises.

Opening of St. Brigid’s Catholic Church in Osgoode Twp just south of Manotick.

1860

Joseph Currier and Moss Dickinson open a saw mill and grist mill at the site of Manotick. The grist mill is the largest of its kind in eastern Ontario, employing 20 men, and producing 100 barrels of flour a day.

1861

Second census of Upper and Lower Canada, as well as NB, NS & PEI:

Canada West =1,396,091
Canada East = 1,110,664
New Brunswick = 193,800
Nova Scotia = 330,857
PEI = 80,857

Total = 3,112,269

In Carleton County, the census reveals there to be 3,615 log houses, 449 frame construction buildings, and seven of brick.

Ann (Crosby) Currier dies in a tragic accident at the Long Island Mill of Currier & Dickinson.

1862

Moss Kent Dickinson registers a village site plan for “Manotick” (Ojibway word meaning “Island in the River.”)

1863

Joseph Currier leaves his partnership with Moss Kent Dickinson and moves to Ottawa, turning his attention to his Edinburgh Sawmills at Rideau Falls.

1866

Burritt’s Rapids has a population of approximately 400.

1867

Confederation – Canada is formed with New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Quebec and Ontario.

James Craig of North Gower, builds the first cheese factory in Carleton County (The North Gower Cheese Manufacturing Company). At its peak it would have up to 87 cheese milk shippers, and produce 20 cheeses a day, and 100 tons per season.

Federal gov’t contracts for construction of a bridge over the Rideau Canal at Beckett’s Landing.

The Government builds a swing bridge over the East Branch of the Rideau River at Manotick. This bridge will last until 1956.

Joseph Currier becomes the Member of Parliament for Ottawa.

Moss Kent Dickinson builds "Dickinson House" in Manotick; it initially is used as an office for his mill operations, as well as serving as the post office for the young village of Manotick (population ~100.)

1870s

With the demise of large-scale lumbering, demand for settlers’ farm produce declined drastically. Carleton County farmers began developing the dairy potential of their operations.

1870

Present United Church in North Gower is constructed by the Methodists, who had a church building in North Gower since 1843.

1871

North Gower Village reportedly has 5 general stores, 2 carriage makers, 3 millners, 3 blacksmiths, 2 tanners, 1 saddler, 1 harness maker, 1 tailor, 2 hotelkeepers, 3 shoemakers, 1 cooper and 1 cabinetmaker.

1872

A new iron bridge is built across the West Branch of the Rideau River at Manotick. This bridge will last until 1957.

1875

The Federal Gov’t considers the issue of building a bridge over the Rideau River at or near the village of Wellington in the Township of North Gower. Further discussion is deferred, pending proposals from the local Municipalities, which are responsible for bridges. The issue was raised in the House as fluctuations in the Rideau Canal, which is a federal responsibility, does affect water levels in the River, and therefore has an influence on riverbank conditions, which in turn do affect the costs of constructing bridges.

1876

The last drive of railroad ties, cut in Marlborough Twp is floated down Stevens Creek by William Pratt.

Construction is completed on a Township Hall in North Gower. (Current location of the Rideau Township Archives.

St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Kars, is built on land donated by James Lindsay.

1877

St. James Anglican Church is completed in Manotick.

1878

First swing bridge completed across the Rideau at Kars, ending the ferry service

1890s

Installation of the first telephones in North Gower.

1897

(Feb.) Founding of the Women’s Institute movement in Ontario at Stoney Creek by Adelaide Hoodless.

Installation of a swing bridge across the Rideau Canal at Burritts Rapids.

1903

Manotick is incorporated as a police village.

1905

North Gower incorporated as a police village.

1907

Formation of the North Gower Women’s Institute. It is the first WI Branch formed in Carleton County, and possibly the first in Eastern Ontario.

1909

Formation of the Manotick Women’s Institute. First meeting – held at the Central Experimental Farm – of the newly formed WI “District” consisting of WI Branches in North Gower, Manotick and Stittsville.

1912

Kars Branch of the Women’s Institute officially organized with 32 members.

Carleton District WI adds Branches in Kinburn, Kars and South March. District membership = 324.