Two Historic Churches The Boyhood Home of Sir John Macdonald The Cradle of Canadian Methodism The Tablet to the Loyalists The Passing of the Pioneers
Major Vanalstine, with a small company of men, women and children, landed on the south shore of Adolphustown on June 16^th, 1784. The privations and hardships subsequently experienced have frequently been commented upon in reference to the Loyalist settlements in this and other districts in the west. Suffice it to say they bore their burdens bravely and reared their families under the aegis of the flag they had learned to honor and revere. Accessions were made to their numbers from time to time, until the year 1791, when the settlements extending along the St. Lawrence, Lake Ontario, the Niagara frontier, the Amherstburg district and the Thames River country contained a population of more than 20,000. The Imperial Government at that time gave Canada a new constitution, which separated Upper from Lower Canada. In the following year, Governor Simcoe established his Government at Newark and the Adolphustown colony sent Phillip Dorland, a Quaker, to the Legislature as its first representative. On account of certain scruples about the oath of office, Dorland was not allowed to sit in the House and Major Vanalstine was elected in his stead. The Methodist Church was erected on Hay Bay at that time, which still stands, doing sentinel duty in a lonely locality, not having been used for many years. When the ominous clouds of 1812 hung over our southern horizon, Adolphustown was in a prosperous condition. Roads were made and communication established with all the surrounding districts. The mortar had given way for the grist mill. The log shanty was replaced by a comfortable house. The children attended school in a well built school house. Fortune was smiling upon them after 28 years of pioneer life. Without provocation on the part of our people the thunder bolt of war came suddenly upon them from a clear sky. The United States could give but a flimsy excuse for attempting to wrest this northerly half of the American continent from England’s control, but it answered the purpose. President Madison issued his declaration of war on June 18^th, 1812. It was carried in Congress with a majority of 39 votes, but with only a majority of six in the Senate. The result of that war is well known to every Canadian. We are proud of the general results, while we mourn the loss of Canada’s grandest hero, the illustrious Brock. When an opportunity was afforded, the militia mustered at Kingston, from Adolphustown to Prescott, to meet the enemy. We know these men fighting for their homes were the bravest of the brave. Chrysler’s Farm, in that section, where about 800 Canadians and British soldiers defeated between 3,000 and 4,000 Americans, in the most scientifically fought battle of the war, sufficiently attests the kind of stuff our forefathers were made of. Many interesting reminiscences of the war of 1812 have been handed down to the present generation. The Adolphustown pioneers gradually passed over to the majority and their remains were interred in a cemetery within two hundred yards of the shore where they first landed and in the cemetery adjoining the Methodist Church on Hay Bay. As time advanced, old Adolphustown, in line with all sections of this Province, rapidly developed. Kingston, 30 miles to the east, with its grist mill and stores and military post, was the headquarters of all the surrounding district. The railway era began and in course of time the Grand Trunk Railway was constructed through the Province. The Village of Napanee, on the line of railway, at the site of the picturesque falls of the Napanee became the trading centre for the introduction of the Grand Trunk and subsequently became the county town of Lennox and Addington. Napanee became the trading centre for the surrounding townships out to Adolphustown, twenty miles to the southwest. PIONEER CHURCHES In the early days of the Adolphustown settlement, the Quakers erected a small frame “meeting house” on Hay Bay about half a mile west of the Methodist Church, which was the first built in Canada. This building, unused for many years, still stands, at the junction of three roads on the original site. The Quakers and Methodists of Canada have the earliest records of their existence in Canada still standing, which are worthy of a better fate than crumbling to the ground and disappearing from sight, which will be their lot in a few years if something be not done to intercept the ravages of wind and rain. These grand old structures, relics of a former century, are rapidly going to decay. Between these historic churches, the stone foundation of a dwelling may still be seen, where the late Premier of Canada spent, what he frequently claimed, his happiest boyhood days. Hugh Macdonald moved from Kingston to a house adjoining the old Methodist Church in Adolphustown about the year 1825, with his wife and three children; Margaret, John and Louisa, and here they resided some three years in a store and dwelling combined. The Macdonald house was well and favorably known throughout Adolphustown and the family were highly respected, although in very poor circumstances. They attended worship in both the Quaker and Methodist churches and the children went to school along with the neighboring children in the Front School house, the foundation of which may still be seen. Born in Glasgow in 1815, John, the second child, was about ten years old when he came to Adolphustown. He was a lively, roguish, good-hearted boy and many incidents are related of his mischievous pranks in those early days, when barefooted, with patched trousers and straw hat, he sauntered to and from school. But one of those early school-mates of the future Premier remains in Adolphustown, viz., Mr. Parker Allen, an octogenarian, who has related to the writer numerous incidents of their school days. The Macdonald family, after three years residence in Adolphustown, moved over to “Stone Mills,” now Glenora, at the “Lake on the Mountain, “ on the Prince Edward shore. John A., then returned to Kingston and attended school for a few years, occasionally visiting the family at the Lake on the Mountain, where we catch a glimpse of the happy domestic circle when these reunions took place, from Mr. McPherson’s life of Sir John. The family returned to Kingston in 1835, about the time that their son John was admitted to the bar and began the remarkable career with which Canadians are so familiar. His business connections and political life created a wide circle of acquaintances and many ardent admirers throughout the country, so that when the general elections of 1882 came on, Sir John was induced to stand for Lennox. His worthy opponent, Mr. D.W. Allison, a wealthy Loyalist farmer of Adolphustown, was defeated at the time, but subsequently was elected by the riding for the Commons on two different occasions. Mr. Allison was defeated in turn by Mr. M.W. Pruyn, and by Mr. Uriah Wilson, the present representative. When Sir John, through the indiscretion of an agent, lost his seat in Lennox he stood for Carleton County, having been elected in both constituencies. His last appearance in the county was in the spring of 1891, when he addressed a mass meeting in the Opera House, Napanee, and subsequently an overflow meeting in the Town Hall. The zeal of the aged Premier for the success of his party led to over-exertion. Partial paralysis resulted on his return to his private car from which he never fully recovered. He had the satisfaction of seeing his party returned to power but, shortly after, on the 6^th of June, in the midst of the responsible cares of government, with his harness buckled on until the last, the Old Chieftain laid down the weapons of his earthly warfare and his remains were laid away to quietly rest beneath the shades of the tall pines of Cataraqui Cemetery. Many of his old Adolphustown friends were present at Kingston to witness the funeral rites and in no place in Canada is the memory of the departed statesman more kindly cherished than in old Adolphustown, the home of his boyhood. THE LOYALISTS’ MEMORIAL Some years ago, when Dr. Canniff of Toronto suggested the propriety of commemorating in some tangible way the landing of the United Empire Loyalists in Canada, Adolphustown seized upon the suggestion with avidity and immediately decided upon some definite action. The remains of those Loyalists who had been buried on Hay Bay were exhumed and reinterred in the old cemetery at the landing place. A committee of 40 descendants was appointed, who decided that a memorial tablet should be erected on the 16^th of June, 1884, the centennial of the landing of Major Vanalstine and his party. A grand celebration was inaugurated and successfully carried out, lasting three days. A large concourse of people from all over the Province gathered on that occasion. The weather was delightful and all thoroughly enjoyed the diversity of recreations provided. The addresses from many prominent descendants of Loyalists on the site of the old “burying ground,” were an inspiration to the thousands of people assembled. The cornerstone of the monument was laid with Masonic honors, followed by a royal salute from the battalions. The beautiful granite shaft which stands there today was soon afterward engraved in gilded letters the following inscription: “Sacred to the memory of the United Empire Loyalists, who first landed on these shores on the 16^th June, 1784.” It seems but yesterday to those of us who took part in that centennial. Many have since passed away. Of the committee of 40, about one half are gone, the writer’s father being included in the number and also the worthy President, Mr. L.L. Bogart, the then oldest living descendant of the first Loyalist colony. An interesting feature of the centennial was the laying of the corner stone of two churches in the township, which are today know as “Centennial” churches. The first, a Methodist church, is on the site of the church erected in 1863, in the 2^nd concessions, as a substitute for the original one on Hay Bay, which was then closed. The cornerstone was laid by Mrs. Josephine Allison, a venerable lady, who shortly afterwards passed away and service was conducted by Rev. D.V. Lucas of Montreal. A beautiful brick edifice now adorns the site in which a large congregation worships. The other is an Anglican Church in the first concession, near the Loyalist burying ground, the cornerstone of which was laid by Lieutenant-Governor Robinson, who took part in the centennial proceedings. St. Alban’s is the name of the pleasant stone structure of Queen Anne’s style, which the rector, Mr. Forneri, has been successful in completing and in which his people worship from Sabbath to Sabbath. These are the only places of worship in the township on the south side of Hay Bay. Time has wrought wondrous changes in the old Adolphustown settlement. The buildings of former generations have been removed and in their stead stand commodious dwellings and large farm buildings, all homes are comfortable, and the people truly hospitable. Two telephone lines with telephones at intervals throughout the township, afford communication with the surrounding towns. Winter gives a frozen highway in all directions, while summer yields steamer connection at all hours of the day. The bass and maskinonge fishing of the Bay of Quinte, together with the pleasant summer resorts at intervals along its banks, attract many tourists from over the border, while swarms of people desert the neighboring cities and towns during the oppressive summer heat for recreation among the shades of the numerous maple and beech groves along the shores of the bay. Napanee, Aug 3., A.R. DAVIS
	The Author - Allan Ross Davis (1858-1933) Born in Adolphustown in Sept 3, 1858, a son of Archibald Campbell Davis and Amy Ann Huffnail and a great-grandson of Henry Davis U.E. The Davis farm was located on Lot 16, Concession 2, Adolphustown. In his early days, he taught school at Bethany and later in Richmond Township. He graduated from McGill University as a civil engineer in 1884; the same year as the centennial celebration of the arrival of the Loyalists . On Aug 15 1888 he married Alice Maud Casey, (1860-1948), a daughter of Thomas W. Casey & Ann Empey. There were three children: Wilfred Ross, Eleanor and Gordon.
“Mr. Davis was a member of the United Empire Loyalist Society and wrote many works on U.E.L. matters, but will be longest remembered for his zeal and perseverance in bringing about the restoration and preservation of the old U.E.L. Church, built in 1792, on Hay Bay, by the Methodists of Canada.” [from the obituary of Allan Ross Davis 1933] Davis later purchased the lot where Hugh Macdonald had settled in 1824 and erected a monument and plaque commemorating the boyhood home of Hugh’s son, Sir John A. Macdonald. He died September 18, 1933 in Toronto and was buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto.