The Valley of the Lower Thames 1640 to 1850 / Fred Hamil.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Hamil, Fred, author.

Series:

Heritage

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Kent (Ont. : County)--History.

Kent (Ont. : County).

Chatham (Ont.)--History.

Chatham (Ont.).

Genre:

History.

Electronic books.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (423 pages) : illustrations, maps

Place of Publication:

Toronto : University of Toronto Press, [2019]

Language Note:

In English.

Summary:

Few are the regions in the province of Ontario so rich and rewarding to the reader interested in local history as the valley of the Lower Thames. As the author tells us with warmth and enthusiasm of the early settlers, roads, bridges, inns, and mills of his native region, his story takes on a wider significance. Here, indeed, is the story of pioneer Canada, "writ small." The valley of the Lower Thames includes the greater part of what is now the county of Kent, and comprises one of the richest and most populous agricultural areas of modern Ontario. For many years it remained separated from the upper river settlements by miles of primeval forest. The Thames River was the highroad for commerce and travel that bound the people on both its banks into one community, and connected them with other communities far beyond. Professor Hamil has embellished what is commonly known of such striking pioneer figures as Thomas Talbot, the Ainse family, and others, with additional fascinating details, and brings before us many figures less well known to history but whose careers arouse admiration, sympathy, curiosity, and amusement.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Foreword

Contents

Illustrations

Part I. Beginnings

1. Indian Territory

2. The Land Boards And The Surveyors

3. The Moravians At Fairfield

4. The Baldoon Settlement

5. Economic Development Of The Lower Settlements

6. The Evangelists

7. War On The Thames

Part II. Development

8. Renewal Of Settlement

9. Development Of Agriculture

10. Commercial And Industrial Expansion

11. Roads, Inns, And Stage-Coaches

12. Disease, Crime, And Trickery

13. Churches And Preachers

14. Some Aspects Of Pioneer Life

15. Background Of Discontent

16. The Patriot War

Part III. Expansion

17. The Farm And Its Harvest In The 1840's

18. Chatham: Emporium Of The West

19. Chatham: Social Life

20. Rise Of The Village Community

21. The Dawn Of Self-Government

Appendices

A. State Of Improvements On The Thames, January, 1794

B. Original Patentees On The Thames

C. Petitioners For Lots In Chatham, 1832

D. Some Additional Biographical Notes

Bibliography

Index

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (publisher's Web site, viewed 19. Feb 2019)

ISBN:

9781487589691

1487589697

9781442615168

1442615168

OCLC:

1088924479