Low Down Articles
Echoes from the Past
Article 44 of 111
This article first appeared in the "Echoes from the Past" column of the The Low Down to Hull and Back News.
Reprinted with permission. Search complete list of Low Down Articles.
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More on Philemon Wright and Associates
In 1806 (1) King George III granted Wright and his associates a fourth of the Hull Township - from Eardley Township to the Gatineau River. Wright was granted an extra 1200 acres himself in view of his cultivation of hemp.
That answer the often asked questions: "Where did he get so much land?"
The associates were Isaac Remic, Ephraim Chamberlain, Edmund Chamberlain, Luther Colton, James McConnell, Harvey Parker, Philemon Wright Junior., Tiberius Wright and Daniel Wyman. (Mrs. Philemon Wright Sr. was a Wyman).
Wright gave away many parcels of land, among them that for the old burying ground called St. James and standing on the little rise along the Britannia (Aylmer) Road, between it and the Grand (Ottawa) River. The area was 780 x 750 ft. It was opened in 1815. The graves of Philemon Wright and Nicholas Sparks are side by side. (2)
The adjoining burying ground was given by John Scott's estate. Judge John Scott married Nancy Louisa Wright, daughter of Tiberius Wright (Philemon was her grandfather) Alonzo Wright was her brother.) (2) Judge Scott was the first mayor of Bytown (later Ottawa).
It was John Scott who built the lovely old stone house, where hospitality was traditional. Many guest would have remembered the sumptuous entertainments they enjoyed there.
(1) It was 1806 that Philemon and his son Tiberious floated the first squared timber raft to Quebec City.
(2) Alonzo Wright married Mary Sparks, daughter of Nicholas Sparks.