THE ROBLIN FAMILY
History of the Settlement of Upper Canada, Wm. Canniff,
1869 The Roblin
family is extensively and favorably known in Upper Canada, especially in the bay
region. They , although numerous, have sprung from a common ancestry.
Originally of English or Welsh nativity; at the commencement of the rebellion
they were found dwelling in New York and New Jersey. As a result of the
Revolution, four branches of the Roblin family came into Canada, two of whom,
John and Stephen, were brothers. John Roblin
lived in New Jersey, he took no part in the contest, but his sympathies were
doubtless with the loyalists. One day, he was sitting in the doorway, when a
scouting party fired upon the house as they approached. Some fourteen shots
were fired. This was done without any warning, the house being inhabited by a
private family. John Roblin was wounded in the knee. The party entered the
house and completely ransacked it, searching for valuables; not satisfied
with what they found, the demanded where the money was; John’s brother,
Stephen, was suspended by his thumbs to a tree with the view of forcing him
to tell where the money was concealed. John, although wounded, was stripped
almost naked. The ruffians, who did all this under the name of “Liberty,”
destroyed what they could not carry; and flour, furniture, everything in
fact, was strewn about and broken. One of the party put his bayoneted musket
to the breast of Mrs. Roblin and dared her to call George her king. She
fearlessly replied, he once was, why not now. The demon was pulling the
trigger, when a more human comrade knocked the weapon aside. The rebels were near by under Washington and this was a regular detailed
foraging party. John Roblin was afterward placed in the rebel hospital, but
the doctor was unnecessarily cruel and so maltreated him that he became a
life-long cripple. The family came into the rebel camp and Mrs. Roblin
complained to General Washington of the conduct of his men. He had her look
among the men and promised to punish any she said had been among the party.
But of course, they kept out of the way. The Roblins settled originally in Adolphustown, John Roblin
died and his widow, with the family, removed to Sophiasburgh, where she
bought 100 acres of land for $25 and paid for it by weaving. She likewise cut
down trees and made her hut. Roblin, who
settled in the third concession of Fourth Town, became a member of
Parliament.
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JOHN P. ROBLIN ESQ.
Journal of Education for Ontario 1874 JOHN P. ROBLIN, ESQ., was born in
Sophiasburgh, in August, 1799. His
father, Philip Roblin, emigrated to Canada, with his ancestors, from New
Jersey, in the year 1784, and settled in Adolphustown, with several other
United Empire Loyalists. The Roblin
family, after a few years, removed to Prince Edward and took up land at the
place afterwards known as Roblin’s Mills, Sophiasburgh. M. Roblin received what was considered in
those days a good Common School education;
being taught principally, if not wholly, by the late Jonathan
Greeley. In 1832, he went forth to
battle with the primeval forests of Ameliasburgh, where he cleared and
improved a farm and remained upon it till 1847, when he removed to
Hallowell. In 1858 he gave up the farm
and moved to Picton, where he resided at the time of his death. At an early age Mr. Roblin gave promise of
public usefulness, and in his 31st year was elected to serve in
the Parliament of Upper Canada. the
Election took place in 1830, when Sir John Colborne was
lieutenant-Governor. The Candidates
were Asa Werden, Jacob Howell, Paul Peterson and J. P. Roblin. the first and last named were elected. In 1834, the House having been dissolved,
another election took place, at which the Candidates were William Rourke, Asa
Werden, James Wilson and J P. Roblin. the two last named were elected. Sir Francis Bond Head having succeeded Sir
John Colborne as Lieutenant-Governor, dissolved the House in 1836, in
consequence of an irresistible demand for Responsible Government. At the election in 1836, the Candidates
were Charles Bockus, James Wilson, James Armstrong and J. P. Roblin. Armstrong and Bockus were successful. In 1840, the Provinces having been united,
a new election was ordered by Lord Sydenham.
Prince Edward could then send but one representative, and Bockus and
Roblin were the candidates. - The
latter was elected by a large majority.
During this Parliament Lord Sydenham died and was succeeded by Sir
Charles Bagot, who survived his predecessor only one year. After the dissolution in 1844, Mr. Roblin
first met as an opponent at the polls, the late D. B. Stevenson, but
notwithstanding the shrewdness and popularity of his opponent, Mr. Roblin was
successful, and entered for the fifth time upon his duties as representative
for the County of Prince Edward. At
this time the Hon. W. H. Draper was Attorney-General, and for the first half
of the Parliament had a narrow majority in the House. An election petition was pending before a
Committee, and Mr. Roblin was Chairman of that Committee. Mr. Hincks (now Sir Francis) was the
Respondent. - The Committee were equally divided, politically, and the
Chairman would have the ensuing vote.
Mr. Draper thought that if he could get Mr. Roblin out of the House,
he would effect a treble gain. First,
he would get rid of him. Second, he
would get rid of Hincks; and third,
the probability was that Mr. Stevenson could be elected over any other man in
Prince Edward. Under the circumstances
a proposition was made to Mr. Roblin by Mr. Draper, Mr. Roblin refused at
first to accept the position himself, but asked the Minister to allow him to
name a man as Registrar and he could give the collectorship to any one he
liked. Mr. Draper replied that he
might take both positions himself, but if he refused to accept he could have
nothing to say in the matter. Mr.
Roblin waited till he heard the evidence on the election petition, and
decided that in view of his oath he could not vote to sustain Mr.
Hincks. This opinion he communicated
Hincks, and he (Hincks) endorsed it.
Next, Mr. Roblin remembered that he had beaten Stevenson by only 58
votes and knowing that his opponents were very busy in his absence, thought
there was a serious probability of his being defeated at the next
election. He therefore concluded, that
inasmuch as he could not save Hinck’s seat by remaining in the House, and as
he was liable to be beaten the next election, he would do no injury to his
party to retire, and allow some other man to meet Mr. Stevenson. - He
accepted the positions of collector of Customs, Registrar and Crown Land
Agent, and left Parliament forever.
The result was that Francis Hincks, although editor of the Pilot
at the time, never found fault with his course regarding the Committee, and
remained ever after his personal friend.
Besides this, at the ensuing election, Roger Conger took Mr. Stevenson
by surprise, and defeated him by four votes!
Mr. Roblin’s Parliamentary career was marked by ceaseless activity. Through all the
conflict for the civil and religious privileges which we now enjoy, he stood
valiantly at his post, and did battle for the right. In the great fight for Responsible
Government, he was no idle spectator - but an active participator in the
fiercest of the struggle. Time after
time he rose to his feet on behalf of Wm. Lyon Mackenzie and the principles
he was advocating, but as often was doomed to no other success than having
his name written with that of thirteen members, who fought against tremendous
odds for the freedom of their fellow citizens. And often have we heard him express his
thankfulness to the Disposer of all events, that he had spared him to enjoy
all the rights and privileges for which he had spent the early part of his
life in political contention. In all
matters affecting the welfare of the municipality, Mr. Roblin took an active
if not a leading part. Through his
instrumentality Prince Edward was separated form the Midland District, and
given a municipal government of its own.
He had the honour of being appointed the first Warden of the County,
and organized the first council in 1841.
Although a firm supporter of W. L. Mackenzie in Parliament, yet he did
not hesitate to obey the call of his Sovereign in 1837, and was the only
Captain who raised a full company without drafting! With this body of men he went to the
Carrying Place, and did duty for two months during the winter of
1837-38. He was Captain of the first
troop of Cavalry in the County, and afterwards appointed Lieutenant-Colonel
of the 2nd Battalion Prince Edward Militia. As a staunch
supporter of the Temperance Cause, Mr. Roblin had few equals, adopting the
principles of Temperance, when the opposite were more popular. For 55 years, he was a zealous member of
the Wesleyan Methodist Church, and has held many positions of trust under the
conference of that body. For over 20
years he was a member of Victoria College board; and for the last 25 years has been
Recording Steward of Picton Circuit.
In all matters affecting the good of society, our readers are well
aware the deceased was an active worker.
Every good cause had a warm friend in John P. Roblin.
In him every bad cause found an inveterate enemy. At the good old age of 75 years he has gone
to his rest. - Picton Times. |
ALLEN RUTTAN, M.D. A Cyclopaedia of Canadian Biography,
1886 Ruttan,
Allen, M.D., Napanee, Ontario, was born on the 26th January, 1826, at
Adolphustown, County of Lennox, Ontario. He is a son of Peter William Ruttan
and Fanny Roblin. His father carried on extensive farming operations at
Sophiasburgh, County of Prince Edward; was a justice of the peace; and for
many years before his decease a lieutenant-colonel of militia in that county.
He was the eldest brother of the late Sheriff Ruttan, of Cobourg. He had but
one sister, Elizabeth, wife of the Rev. Dr. Townley, of Paris, Ontario. Allen
Ruttan was educated at the Picton Grammar school, in the County of Prince
Edward, Mr. Cockrell, an Eton man, and a retired officer in the English army,
being head master of the school. After matriculating at McGill college,
Montreal, our subject entered upon the study of medicine at that institution,
and obtained the degree of doctor of medicine and surgery in 1852. He began
practice in Newburgh, a village in Addington county, situated on the Napanee
river, and about six miles from Napanee. Newburgh at that time was considered
a more promising village than Napanee; but at the separation of Lennox and
Addington from the County of Frontenac, Napanee was made the county town of
the new county. he then removed to the premises which he now occupies of John
Street. During the past thirty-three years, Dr. Ruttan has had an extensive
and lucrative practice over a district thirty or forty miles square. Thirty
years ago the roads in this country were in a horribly wretched condition,
and the people, especially those of the back townships, were less prosperous
than they are at present. Very frequently he found it necessary to ride all night, placing a
saddle in the gig, and after travelling as far as he could go on wheels,
would take to horseback, and when the horse could no longer find a road, he would
travel on foot, following a trail through the wilderness with a birch-bark
torchlight, in order to relieve from suffering the wife of some lonely
settler or to amputate a limb for some woodman, with no other assistance than the hand of some kindly neighbour.
There was no Grand Trunk then, and no Napanee and Quebec Railway, as now. The
forest has disappeared, and flourishing farms and farm houses are to be seen
everywhere, while the roads are better in these back townships that they are
at the front. Dr. Ruttan has always been passionately fond of his profession,
and took great delight in the study of anatomy, physiology, surgery and
chemistry. Indeed, he has regretted all his life that he did not remain in
Montreal, as it would have afforded him a better opportunity for the
prosecution of these studies and the practice of surgery, which he has almost
made a specialty. he was appointed examiner in anatomy and surgery at the
University of Toronto in 1850; and was elected unanimously by the medical
practitioners in the Newcastle and Trent electoral division to the council of
the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Ontario, 1885. He has always taken an
active part in municipal matters, school boards, and boards of health; is
medical health officer at Napanee, and held the appointment of gaol surgeon
since 1876. Himself, his wife and family are regular communicants of the
Church of England, and Liberal-Conservative in politics. Dr. Ruttan was
married, at St. George's church, Montreal, in 1854 by the Rev. Dr. Bethune,
brother of the late bishop, the register being the cathedral register where
Dr. Bethune officiated. His wife is Caroline, daughter of the late William
Smith, Montreal, whose father and grandfather were interested in, or in some
way connected with, the Hudson Bay company. There are three sons and two
daughters by the marriage. The eldest, Robert Fulford, was educated at
University College, and graduated in arts at the University of Toronto in
1881, and obtained the gold medal in natural sciences at his final
examination. He entered upon the study of medicine at McGill College the same
year, obtained the Sutherland gold medal and the Morrice scholarship in 1883,
and his degree of M.D. & C. in 1884. He was appointed assistant lecturer
upon principle and practical chemistry in that college in 1885. During the
past interim he has been engaged in original work in Professor Hofmann's
laboratory, Berlin, Germany. The second son, Allen Montgomery, was educated
at the Napanee High school and entered upon the study of law with Reeve &
Morden, Napanee, and McCarthy & Co., Toronto; and passed his examination
at Osgoode Hall for attorney and barrister in 1883. He is now practising his
profession with John Leys, barrister, Toronto. |
HON. HENRY RUTTAN The Canadian Biographical Dictionary
1880 The late
Henry Ruttan was the son of a United Empire Loyalist, William Ruttan, who
settled in Adolphustown, Upper Canada, about 1784, where Henry was born in
1792. He descended from a Huguenot family of Rochelle, France, the founder of
the family being the Rev. Jean Baptiste Rotan, a prominent ecclesiastical
writer and controversialist near the close of the sixteenth century. His
grandfather emigrated to America in 1724, and settled with other Huguenot
families at New Rochelle, Manchester county, New York. His father and uncle,
Peter Ruttan, were in the 3rd Battalion Jersey Volunteers, on the Royalist
side; each had a grant of twelve hundred acres of land in Adolphustown,
Midland District, and there settled with other United Empire Loyalist
families, and greatly suffered the first few years on account of the
hardships and destitution attendant on frontier life, eighty-five and ninety
years ago. During one of two of the severest winters starvation seemed at
times to be staring them in the face. At
fourteen years of age (1806), our subject finished his education, and
repairing to Kingston, became a clerk in a store. When war with the United
States broke out in 1812, he joined the "Incorporated Militia,"
held a Lieutenant's commission, and received a serious wound at Lundy's Lane,
which laid him up for several months. When the war closed he went into
business at Haldimand, Northumberland county, and not long afterwards was
promoted to the rank of major. A few years later he became Colonel. In 1820,
Col. Ruttan was elected to the House of Assembly of Upper Canada, for
Northumberland; in October, 1827, was appointed sheriff of the Newcastle
District, embracing Northumberland, Durham, and one or two other counties; in
1836, he was again elected to the Assembly, and in 1838 was the Speaker. His
term of legislative service expired in 1840, and the last vote he cast was
for the Union of Upper and Lower Canada, which was consummated on the 10th of
February, 1841, though the Act had received the assent of Her Majesty the
July before, a suspending clause causing the delay. In
1857, when Col. Ruttan resigned the office of sheriff, he was, with one
exception, the senior Sheriff and colonel of Militia in the province. For
some time he had command of the 9th Military District, into which Upper and
Lower Canada were divided. At one time he was President of the Provincial
Agricultural Association, and took great interest in such matters being a
public-spirited, enterprising man. In
1860, he was thrown by accident from his buggy, and was seriously injured,
recovering slowly and only partially. In a
short time he resumed his experimentings and
writings on the theory of ventilation, on which he had been engaged several
years, and continued them until 1866, when he was seized with apoplexy, and
continued to gradually decline, until he expired, July 31, 1871. The Cobourg
Star of the same week (August 2nd), from which we glean many of these facts,
says that: "Mr.
Ruttan was a good man, an humble christian, and left a name of which his
children and relatives may be justly proud. At the time of his death he was
in his eightieth year." His
funeral was attended by a large body of masons, he being a member of that
Order. The
wife of Col. Ruttan was Mary Jones, an estimable lady who died February 21,
1878. She was the mother of nine children, four of whom preceded her to the
spirit world, and one son, Henry Jones, has since followed her (February 4,
1879). He was editor and proprietor of the Cobourg Star from 1846 to 1855,
and was interested for years with his father in what is now widely known as
Ruttan's system of ventilation, which is largely in use and growing in
popularity, as will be seen by Appleton's New Cyclopaedia. Mary, the only
daughter living, is the widow of Judge Robert M. Boucher, of Peterborough.
Charles is rector of a church near Toronto; Richard is a barrister and
attorney-at-law, residing in Cobourg, and William E. is a short-hand writer
and reporter in New York city. |
JOHN ALLEN RUTTAN Kingston Whig Standard Jan 9 1952 John
Ruttan Marks 90th Birthday – In Top Form Despite Age Four
score years and 10 and still able to take daily walks of three miles is the
proud boast of John Allen Ruttan, 28 Fifth street, who celebrated his 90th
birthday Tuesday. A few immediate relatives had afternoon tea with Mr. and
Mrs. Ruttan. Mr.
Ruttan enjoys doing his own shopping and says: “I think nothing of going down
to the Princess street stores, making my purchases and walking back. I am in
good health. I operated my own farm when I was 88 years of age and did some
of the plowing as well as the chores.”
“We also made maple syrup,” his wife added. Mr.
Ruttan, who is a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. William Ruttan, was born on a
farm near Yarker. “I spent the greater part of my life working on the land
both as a hired man and a farm owner,” he said. “I farmed in South
Fredericksburgh, Ernestown and Harrowsmith. I wore out three binders so you
know I must have been doing some farming.” Speaking
of the Kingston market, Mr. Ruttan said he can well remember as a young man
driving 50 miles a day with a team of horses and a spring wagon to attend the
Kingston market. In those days produce was cheap, he said. Eggs were 10 cents
a dozen, butter 20 cents a pound, pork, good quality, 10 cents a pound and
beef from five to eight cents. “I also used to bring grain to the market,
carrying as much as 100 bushels in one trip, “ he added. Meals weren’t the problem to the farmer when
he came then to town that they are now, “ Mr. Ruttan said. “You could get a
good meal for 25 cents and you could buy a meal ticket at Horne’s Hotel,
which would entitle you to six meals for $1.
Our horses were stabled for 25 cents,” he recalled. Stage coach days were referred to by Mr.
Ruttan. “I operated a stage between Harrowsmith and Kingston for six and a
half years,” he said. “My stage would carry 20 passengers and a half a ton of
freight. Most of the time I used a team of horses. During that period I
missed only one trip and that was because the roads were filled with snow.
The return fare from Harrowsmith to Kingston was $1. Mr.
Ruttan in 1883 married Edith Switzer, who died in November, 1921. His second
wife is the former Edith Hunt, whom he married in 1924. There are three sons,
Frank and Amos of Kingston, and William of Harrowsmith; one daughter, Mrs.
Harry Martin, Peterborough. |