1

The Township of Reach was named after Colonel Reach and was surveyed by Major Wilmot in 1809. In 1811 the first Crown Grant of 200 acres in the north half of Reach, located east of the Centre Road, was made to Mrs. Eleanor Phoenix of U.E.L. stock. By 1833 a partial road through the Township opened up, linking Epsom to Uxbridge. It was a somewhat serviceable road, suitable only for ox-carts, but it opened up northern Reach to new settlers. The original village of Greenbank was located at the 12th Concession and Old Brock Road. This is where the Craggs', one of the founding families of Greenbank, settled in 1833. A school, church, and blacksmith shop quickly sprouted in the new village, which was originially named Gimlet Town. An inn was also opened with Isaac Cragg as proprieter. Gimlet Town was abandoned in the late 1860's as businesses deserted the area in favour of the newer and popular Centre Road (Highway 12 today) and 11th Concession location. There are no traces of the old road remaining. The new village was called Smith's Corners after the owner of the local tavern. In 1861 it assumed it's present name of Greenbank, being named after David Cragg's farm in Lancashire, England. The village, at it's peak, had eleven commercial establishments. Edward Bassingthwaite is the first recorded merchant. He opened his general store, inn and blacksmith shop c. 1857 and remained the only merchant for several years. The 1870's were a decade of expansion with four general merchants, a saddler, tailor, dressmaker, two smiths (one a wheelwright) and two shoemakers opening shops. However, by the end of WWI all but the Phoenix store, and one other store, had disappeared.

The following were some of the original settlers of Greenbank who settled the area prior to 1850. These individuals were known to Mary Ann Till, granddaughter of David Cragg. (The following is an excerpt from her book Pioneer Days at Greenbank):

-Thomas Ganton, father of Peter Ganton and Mrs. Phoenix Sr., settled on "Ganton's Hill".
-Joseph Watson, father of Robert and Joseph ('Joss') Watson.
-Thomas Clyde, the Warrens, William Jack, the Helmkays, all of the 11th Concession.
-Mr. Jamieson, father of Alex Jamieson of Uxbridge, settled on the 11th.
-James Copperthwaite the blacksmith, had his shop near the cemetery at the Brock Road.
-John McLaren, in whose bush, opposite the cemetery, the old time camp meetings, and later the Sunday School anniversaries were held.
-David Cragg, and his sons Isaac (father of Richard and Timothy Cragg), Timothy and David (father of T.E. Cragg). All came here in 1833. My father resided for a time in Virginia, where he helped in the construction of what was claimed to be the first railway in the United States.
-Edward Bassingthwaighte (my grandfather) and his sons Edward and Jonathan.
-Robert Wells, who settled where Ernest Phair now lives.
-James Asling and sons, Chauncey, Calvin, John and Walter - first owner of the Blair grist mill today.
-James Burnett, a local preacher, lived on the present McKitterick farm.
-To the eastward several Scottish families located, among them being: James and William McMillan, John Michie, John Leask and Edward Boe, Alex ("Sandy") Leask, father of Alex and James Leask, the well known cattle breeders.
-Reuben Stillwell then owned the present George Real farm. His father was killed in the bush by a falling tree, as outlined in my grandfather Cragg's diary of 1833-34.
-John Phoenix and his son Edward had a large holding of land.
--Joseph Lee, well known as a local preacher, bought part of the Phoenix holding, about 1845, and settled where George Lee now lives.
-The VanAllens who kept the first Post Office on the old Burns farm on the 12th.
-John Beare, father of Isaac and John Beare, also settled first in the vicinity.

The early Greenbank settlers were primarily from the North and West of England, and were almost all Protestant. They shared a pride at being members of the British Empire. They took the stories of Christian theology as the absolute proof of all that existed, and valued respectability above all else.