14

They resided in Owen Sound, likely staying on the Durham Road property during the sowing and harvesting seasons. His presence is seen today in the foundation of his log house and in the bits of crockery that frost heave brings to the surface of the soil each year.

15

Stone pile on Edward Patterson's property
1860s
Lot #8, SDR, Old Durham Road, Priceville, ON

Credits:
South Grey Museum, Flesherton, ON

16

Their first child, Edward Allen, born in 1870, died a couple of years later. Five more children were born and all reached adulthood: Thomas Rufus (1873 - 1923), Frederick William (1875 - 1896), Allan Edward (1877-1960), Susannah Louisa (1880 - 1899) and Ida Sarah (1881 - 1954).

Patterson was well-known in the Owen Sound and Durham Road communities. He served as a lay preacher at the BME church in Owen Sound, the church that served the town's vibrant Black community.

17

Edward (Ned) Patterson's bible and portrait
bible 1858, photo circa 1880
Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Grey Roots Museum & Archives, Owen Sound, ON

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"THE BLACK FAMILY"

19

Brown, Workman and Black family lots, school and cemetery
1860s
Old Durham Road, Priceville, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Historical Atlas of Grey and Bruce Counties Ontario by H. Belden & Co. 1880

20

When the census taker came along in 1851, Gabriel and Elsey Black were farming on Lot#21 SDR. They were 29 and 22 years old, respectively. Their son, Peter, was 9 and was listed as a labourer. In 1851 there was no school for children to attend. Their other child, Sarah, was a toddler of 2. Ten years later, Gabriel and Elsey are listed in the census with three young daughters, Elisabeth (11), Evangeline (5) and Mary Alice (3). Peter may have left home in search of other work. Being the only son, it is more likely that he may have perished in one of the epidemics that swept through the area. Sarah is not listed, either. Her fate is also not known. Elisabeth and Evangeline were attending school.

In 1862, Gabriel Black donated one acre for a school house. There had been a school on Lot#11NDR, which had been in operation since 1856. It is not known why the school moved further east along the road. But what is known is that Gabriel Black donated the land. He was illiterate and likely wanted his own children to avoid his fate. The original log structure was replaced by a brick building in the 1880s.

21

S.S.#7 Schoolhouse on the Old Durham Road
1880s
Old Durham Road, Priceville, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
South Grey Museum, Flesherton, ON

22

By the time of the 1871 census, Gabriel Black is listed as "widowed". He was 47 years old. He was residing on his farm with Evangeline (15), Mary Alice (13), Laura (8), Ann (4) and Catherine (2). Perhaps his wife, Elsey, died in childbirth. The three oldest daughters were listed as attending school - the one at the corner of their farm.

23

"THE BROWN FAMILY"

24

Brown, Workman and Black family lots, school and cemetery
1860s
Old Durham Road, Priceville, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Historical Atlas of Grey and Bruce Counties Ontario by H. Belden & Co. 1880

25

Lemuel and Phoebe Brown came to Canada from the United States before 1828, when they are listed in the Grantham Township census (in the Niagara area). By 1849, the Browns were living in the large Black settlement known as The Queen's Bush Settlement, east of Waterloo. By 1851 they were residing on Lot#18NDR with seven children, Benjamin (18), Mary (17), Charlotte (12), Hannah (9), Susana (5), William (3) and Louisa (1).

The family farm produced wheat, oats, potatoes and turnips. They owned one ox and a milk cow. Ten years later, in 1861, Lemuel (now 59 years of age) and Phoebe (43) are still living in their log house, along with 5 children - Joshua (aged 4) being the newest addition to the Brown family.

By 1871, the Browns had moved to Collingwood. Lemuel was then 70 years of age. It is not known when he died, but Phoebe, listed as a widow in the 1881 census, died in 1896 at the age of 89. Not all captured in the 10-year census cycle, their offspring apparently numbered 17! Many descendants still live in the Collingwood area.

26

Present day photo of the Brown family lot
2012
Old Durham Road, Priceville, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Peter Meyler

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"THE WORKMAN FAMILY"