George W. Dean

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-68270

Notes:

George W.'s two sons by his first wife, Henry H. and George, married Newton sisters and settled in Tecumseth Township, Simcoe County as early as 1833. They lived there most of the remainder of their lives
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In 1834 Samuel Lount was elected to represent Simcoe County in the Legislature of Upper Canada (Ontario). He was an uncle of John Hawk who in about 1832 married George W. Dean's eldest daughter, Martha. In the 1830's, political storm clouds were gathering over the corrupt administration of Upper Canada by the "Family Compact," a collection of officials who favored family and friends in dispensing land and appointing government officials. The leader of the opposition to the "Family Compact" was William Lyon Mackenzie, and he was joined by others including Samuel Lount. In 1837 many of the leading reformers, including Mackenzie and Lount, lost their seats in Parliament, and their cause became an armed rebellion. After the uprising was put down, some of its leaders including Mackenzie escaped to the United States, but two of the leaders were caught and later hanged. One of these was Samuel Lount. The reforms over which the rebellion was fought were enacted into law on February 10, 1841.

In about 1846 Benjamin Hawk Sr., his wife Mary (Lount) Hawk, and the families of their five sons and four daughters moved from Simcoe County to unsettled land in Wellesley Township, Waterloo County. The area was known as the "Queen's Bush." The community where they settled became Hawkesville. These Hawk families included Benjamin Jr. and Mary (Dean) Hawk and John and Martha (Dean) Hawk. John Hawk built the first gristmill in the vicinity of Hawkesville, and his brother Percifer Hawk built the first sawmill. There are numerous instances where verifiable members of this family, in some cases even the same person, spelled their name Hawk or Hawke. On at least one early map the town was named Hawksville. Except where quoting sources, I have chosen to spell the name Hawk.

Accompanying the Hawk families were a number of other families, including George W. Dean, his wife and their sons John, Alfred and Walter. Land records indicate George Dean, Sr. claimed Lot 4, Con. 15 (Eastern Section) Wellesley Township in 1847. This is the land devised in George W.'s will when he died in 1856. These land records also show a Henry H. Dean claimed part of Lot 8, Con. 11 (ES) Wellesley Township in 1847 and a George Dean claimed the east half of Lot 13, Con. 14 (Western Section) in 1850. I think these were George W.'s sons claiming land in Wellesley Township, but not remaining there for any length of time.

The 1851/52 census was the earliest Canadian census to list the names and ages of all the members of each household. It records many of the people listed in the previous two paragraphs at or near Hawkesville, Wellesley Township. In that census, George W. Dean, his wife Jane, their two youngest sons Alfred and Walter, their son John and his wife Margaret and a Jane Newton were enumerated in a one-story log house. The census enumerator wrote "granddau" beside the name of Jane Newton even though the census form did not require such information. My research indicates she was actually a grandniece of George W., not a granddaughter. In that census, George W. gave his religion as "No Church" while the remainder of the family were "Wesleyan Methodist."

George W. Dean died 21 November 1856 at the age of 70 years. He was buried in the Hawkesville Cemetery. In his will he bequeathed 62 acres of land consisting of the east part of Lot 4, Con. 15 (Eastern Section), Wellesley Township and the buildings on it to his son, John Dean, and he bequeathed 50 acres consisting of the west part of that lot to his son, Walter Dean. The James Sim who witnessed the will was "a minister of the Baptist Denomination" and a community leader in Hawkesville. He later performed marriages involving at least two Hawk children and the Jane Newton mentioned above. <sup>1

1</sup>https://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~ladeanxx/famgwd.htm

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Record of the Will of George Dean recorded December 1856

Typed from a microfilm of the original court record by L. A. Dean, 26 October 1996

Probate of The Will of George Dean, late of the Township of Wellesley, Yeoman, deceased, granted the 5th day of December, 1856, by William Uillen [?], Esquire, Judge, on the Petition of Jane Dean, the sole Executrix named in said Will, and which Will is in the words following, namely:

The Last Will and Testament of George Dean, in the Township of Wellesley, County of Waterloo, and Province of Canada, by the Grace of God, Amen. I George Dean Considering the uncertainty of this Natural life and, Being of Sound Mind and Memory (blessed be Almighty God for the Same) do Make and publish this My last Will and Testament in Manner and form following (That is to Say) First I give and bequeath unto My beloved Wife Jane Dean all My personal Property Constituting My entire Farm Stocking Consisting in goods and Chattles viz: My entire farm Stocking On Lot No. 4 -15 Con (E.S) in the Township of Wellesley with the exception and reservation of One New Waggon One Span of Horses and harness and One Cow and Calf. I also will and bequeath fifty five Dollars in Money to be paid to her Annually for the term of her Natural life by My Eldest Son John Dean out of My real Estate. -

Item. I further Will and bequeath unto My Eldest Son John Dean the rest of My personal property Consisting of One New Waggon One Span of Horses and harness and One Cow and Calf. I also give and devise to My Son John Dean his heirs and assigns that part of My real Estate Lot No. 4 - 15 Con. (E.S.) in the Township of Wellesley Consisting of the East part of the Said Lot Containing Sixty two Acres of land with all the buildings and tenements thereon. Reservation that from Said part of My Estate he John Dean Shall Pay to My wife Jane Dean the Sum of fifty five Dollars in Money Annually for the term of her Natural life: -

Item - I further give and devise unto My Youngest Son Walter Dean of my real Estate all the remainder of Lot No. 4 - 15 Con (E.S.) of Wellesley Consisting of the West part of Said Lot Containing fifty Acres of Land with the exception of One Hundred Dollars of its value in Money which I reserve to be paid by Walter Dean to My Son Alfred Dean.

Item - I further Will and bequeath to My Son Alfred Dean One hundred Dollars in Money, to be Paid to him by Walter Dean Consisting of the Sum which I reserved of that part of My Real Estate bequeathed to My Son Walter Dean.

Item - I further will and bequeath to Henry H. Dean to Martha Dean to Mary Dean and George Dean of My first Marriage Five Shillings Currency each. And of the Second to Eliza Dean to Sarah Ann Dean to James Dean William Dean and to Levi Dean five Shillings Currency each. And lastly I hereby appoint My beloved wife Jane Dean to be the Sole Executrix of this My last will and Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set My hand and Seal this Fifth day of April in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Eighty hundred and fifty Six. [5 April 1856]

[Sd] George Dean [seal]

George — . [Group Sheet]

1. Martha Dean was born 7 Aug 1811, , Pennsylvania, USA; died 12 Dec 1876, Burford Twp., Brant Co., Ontario, Canada.
2. Mary Dean was born 20 Mar 1815, , Pennsylvania, USA; died 20 May 1857, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Rushes Cemetery, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada.