Willam Gourlay Millar

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-79399P
• Occupation: 1852, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; capitalist

Notes:

TRANSCRIPTION FROM THE HANDWRITING OF WILLIAM G. MILLAR

The ship's name in which we crossed the ocean was the Mentor of New Bedford, 250 tons Burden. We learnt through the papers that she was lost on the coast of America some years afterwards. We left Dundee in Scotland on the fourth day of June 1804 and did not reach New York in the United States until the fourth of August. We staid in that City about three weeks and then removed to Albany
.
In coming over to America Our Ship encountered a severe storm off the banks of Newfoundland. She was laid to for many hours under the three sails seen on the ship below. Our Father [Captain Alexander Millar] who had been many years at sea declared he had never seen the waves run higher. They seemed to me to to reach an altitude as high as top of the main mast.
We shipped a sea that rose like a house. It swept decks of everything on them. Our Father saved himself by running his arm down to his shoulder into one of the holes in the windlass. The Captain told the owners of the ship at New York that, but for the assistance of our Father, they would never have seen their ship again.

We landed in New York from Dundee in Scotland on the 4 of August 1804, where we staid three weeks and then removed up to Albany, and remained there nine months, and during that time our Father purchased land on the Niagara River, and to which place we removed in the spring of 1805, and where we continued to reside until we Came to Canada, about the Year 1824.

Our brothers, John & David, had preceded us to Canada to Waterloo township, and Commenced to keep a store at what was called Crofts. After a time we joined them there and I assisted in the business for nearly three Years. About that time David and myself left Crofts and went to New York City in order to purchase some goods, and which we did-- and again returned to Canada, and made a beginning at Stoney Creek. But not likely to succeed there, we returned to Waterloo again & commenced the second time near Abram Erb's mill. After a time we removed to Green Bush and carried on our business for nearly three Years there, in a rented house. Soon after this we purchased a lot in Berlin as it is now Called, and we built the first frame house there.

W. G. M

_______________________________

King Street - Queen to Benton

Queen to Benton Street.-A few feet back of King Street and about 15 feet from South Queen Street was a vaulted cellar built of field stone by Peter Rebscher in 1838-39. In 1855 Sheriff Davidson bought this cellar from Paul Schmidt. He erected a frame building extending from the corner, partly using material brought from a former building at New Aberdeen, a village about five and one-half miles southwest of Berlin, where he had also a store business. Jacob Stroh helped to lath the building, receiving 75c as a day's wage. The new building was called The California Block and contained several stores. George Davidson, son of the Sheriff, occupied the corner store as a Grocery and Dry Goods business. Next there was a shed with outside stairway leading to a dance hall above it. The shed was used by the guests of Schmidt's Tavern known as the banners Inn. In the rear of the shed there was a brewery operated William Rebscher, who started to brew about 1830. The process of the Rebscher brewery was to soak the grain for 24 hours, then spread it on the cellar floor and shift it around until it commenced to sprout, after which it was carried upstairs again and put into a dry-kiln about 20 x 20 feet in size, the grain being on screens exposed to the heat coming from below. The dry malt was crushed and ground between iron rollers turned by hand. Later on a steam engine supplied the required power. Mr. Rebscher had this brewery until about 1855, when he moved to Frederick Street on Spetz Street.

Sheriff Davidson bought the shed and converted it into two stores. One of these was occupied by Conrad Schmidt who sold wines, liquors, groceries and hardware. Yost Kimmel had a meat shop under the stores.

Next came an open space and a well and next to that a building which was used 1830 to 1835 as a church by a body known as Mifferites whose main article of belief was that the world was coming to an end in 1835. Many of the Millerites, faithful to their belief, sold their properties and household effects. The building was about 1840 occupied by Paul Schmidt, as the Farmer's Inn already spoken of.

Next came an alleyway and next to that William Moore's general store. Mr. Moore's residence was next to his store. Later on it had a clock factory on the second floor for a short time Next came a three-story building erected in 1860 and next to that no building for a long time until the Boehmer Block was erected. This had a clock factory on the second floor for a short time. Next came a building occupied by Mr. Hymmen, erected between 1850 and 1855. The building was painted a buff color and occupied as a bakery. In 1860, E. R. Hayne had a bakery and confectionery store in the Hymmen building. Next came a two-story frame building located on the site of the westerly half of the present Post Office and occupied by William, David and Frederick Miller as the first general store in Berlin. The location was opposite the end of Frederick Street. J. F. Kannengieser had a tailor shop and was also dealer in fancy goods in this building at one time. In 1860 Mr. and Mrs. John Albright occupied part of the building as a dressmaking and millinery shop. Later on Mr. Rooke had a lock and gunsmith shop on the street floor while his family lived above. There was a high board fence on the Benton Street line with balsam trees planted along the inside.

REMINISCENCES OF BERLIN (NOW KITCHENER) By JACOB STROH Contributed by Joseph M. Snyder.

Part I. Settlement - Early Villagers and Buildings, Waterloo Historical Society Annual Volume 1930

Willam — Janet. Janet was born 1811, , Scotland; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-12296
• Residence: 1790, Dundee, Forfar, Scotland

Notes:

TRANSCRIPTION FROM THE HANDWRITING OF WILLIAM G. MILLAR

The ship's name in which we crossed the ocean was the Mentor of New Bedford, 250 tons Burden. We learnt through the papers that she was lost on the coast of America some years afterwards. We left Dundee in Scotland on the fourth day of June 1804 and did not reach New York in the United States until the fourth of August. We staid in that City about three weeks and then removed to Albany
.
In coming over to America Our Ship encountered a severe storm off the banks of Newfoundland. She was laid to for many hours under the three sails seen on the ship below. Our Father [Captain Alexander Millar] who had been many years at sea declared he had never seen the waves run higher. They seemed to me to to reach an altitude as high as top of the main mast.
We shipped a sea that rose like a house. It swept decks of everything on them. Our Father saved himself by running his arm down to his shoulder into one of the holes in the windlass. The Captain told the owners of the ship at New York that, but for the assistance of our Father, they would never have seen their ship again.

We landed in New York from Dundee in Scotland on the 4 of August 1804, where we staid three weeks and then removed up to Albany, and remained there nine months, and during that time our Father purchased land on the Niagara River, and to which place we removed in the spring of 1805, and where we continued to reside until we Came to Canada, about the Year 1824.

Our brothers, John & David, had preceded us to Canada to Waterloo township, and Commenced to keep a store at what was called Crofts. After a time we joined them there and I assisted in the business for nearly three Years. About that time David and myself left Crofts and went to New York City in order to purchase some goods, and which we did-- and again returned to Canada, and made a beginning at Stoney Creek. But not likely to succeed there, we returned to Waterloo again & commenced the second time near Abram Erb's mill. After a time we removed to Green Bush and carried on our business for nearly three Years there, in a rented house. Soon after this we purchased a lot in Berlin as it is now Called, and we built the first frame house there.

W. G. M

Alexander married Janet Gourlay 22 Mar 1790, Dundee, Forfar, Scotland. Janet was born 1769; died 1822, Lewiston, Niagara, New York, United States. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Janet Millar
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-74015
• Residence: 1790, Dundee, Forfar, Scotland