Thomas Ritchie^[1]

1812 - 1884  (72 years)

• Name	Thomas Ritchie
  Born	1812	Traquair, , Peebles, Scotland
  Gender	Male
  FindAGrave	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/227781187
  Injury	story
  Immigration	1831	, Canada
  Land - Directory	1864	North Dumfries Concession 08 Lot 29, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2]
  Residence	1868	North Dumfries Concession 08 Lot 29, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  Occupation	1871	North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3]
  	Farmer
  Residence	1871	North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3]
  	C. Presb.
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-304058
  Died	30 Jun 1884	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  	Cause: Bright's Disease 6 months
  Buried	Pioneer Pergola Cemetery, St. Andrew's Park, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  Person ID	I304058	Generations
  Last Modified	28 Jan 2025

  
  

  Father	James Ritchie,   b. 1785, of, Traquair, , Peebles, Scotland ,   d. Feb 1848, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 63 years)
  Mother	Charlotte Nicol,   b. CA 1785,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Married	15 Jan 1808	Gattanside, Melrose, , Roxburgh, Scotland
  Family ID	F45367	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Helen Barrie,   b. 16 Aug 1815, Yarrow, , Selkirk, Scotland ,   d. 26 Aug 1868, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 53 years)
  Married	1835  [4]
  Children	1. Margaret Ritchie,   b. 1838, , Ontario, Canada ,   d. 10 Jun 1879, Stanley Twp., Huron Co., Ontario, Canada  (Age 41 years)   2. James Ritchie,   b. 1839, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 11 Jun 1901, Howick Twp., Huron Co., Ontario, Canada  (Age 62 years)   3. George Ritchie,   b. Sep 1842, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. Mar 1843, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age ~ 0 years)   4. Charlotte Ritchie,   b. Jan 1848, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. Jul 1848, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age ~ 0 years)   5. Esther Ritchie,   b. 1852, , Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Last Modified	29 Jan 2025
  Family ID	F45368	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  THE first settlers of Dumfries were generally of a superior class. With few exceptions, they had received a good education at the Parochial Schools of their native land, and many of them brought with them to Canada a thirst for knowledge which even the necessities of bush life could not eradicate. This led to very early endeavours to combine instruction with amusement during their leisure hours. It will surprise many to learn, however, that as early as 1834, when clearings were but few and far between, and when the wolf and bear were not unfrequent visitors, that a Debating society was in full blast during the winter evenings. Such was the fact„ however, and long and excit-ing were the discussions which took place. The scene of these intellectual combats was the home Mr. John Reid, after whom the clachan of Reidsville has been called, and who only passed away to his rest a few months ago. The members of the society were Messrs. John Black, John Reid, Thomas and James Dalgliesh, William Veitch, Alex. Turnbull, Thomas Ritchie, William Hastie, Andrew Mathieson, James Cunningham, Andrew Elliott, John Currie, John Johnston, George Cunningham, Alex. Beckett, James Oliver, Thomas Cleghorn, and occasionally a few others. A majority of these gentlemen still survive, and the mere recital of their names will awaken in the minds of those acquainted with them, many pleasing, and possibly some sad, reminiscences of the past. It is needless to say that this Society was an exceedingly vigorous one, and that the questions discussed were characteristic of the time. Among them were the following: (1) Which is most benefit to mankind, Agriculture or Commerce ? (2) Whether is the profane man or the hypocrite most injury to society? (3) Which is the most destructive element, fire or water? (4) Whether does wood or iron most benefit mankind ? and (5) Would a ship made of iron sink or swim? The debates upon these and similar subjects, which, in the absence of candles, sometimes took place by the light of burning pine knots, were characterised by deep interest and not a little talent, and, to use the language of one of the participants: "Nothing could exceed the enjoyment of these gatherings." The annual dinner of the Debaters was an occasion never to be forgotten. It was also held at Mr. Reid's house, but the viands were provided by the members of the Society generally. It could not boast of the cuisine of Delmonico, nor of bills of fare in French and perfume. It was considered, however, a veritable feast at that time. The Society unitedly purchased a sheep. That was the first step. From this was made soup, a haggis-the oat-meal for which had to be brought from a drug store in Dundas and roast and boiled joints. Add to this description, a few " cakes of the period," and you have the dinner, gastronomically considered, in all its glory It was, however, "the feast of reason and flow of soul" which followed, that gave the occasion its princi-pal attraction. The speeches-the songs-the hilarity-can be better imagined than described. As an illustration of the mirthful spirit which prevailed, it may be mentioned that, on one occasion, whilst ladling out huge platefuls of the steaming haggis, John Black, the chairman, vigorously recited Burns' address to that famous dish: "Fair, fa your honest, sonsie face, Great chieftain o' the puddin' race; Aboon them a' ye tak your place, Painch, tripe or thairm, Weel are ye wordy of a grace As lang's my arm." Nothing could better illustrate the character of the early settlers of Dumfries than efforts at intellectual improvement under such formidable difficulties. It is not too much to say of them, that no part of Canada has been settled by a class of men of greater physical and mental energy. "None but Lowland Scotchmen would ever have cleared North Dumfries," is a remark which has frequently been made. This may be an exaggeration. But those who remember how heavily timbered, how stony and how swampy its rugged hills and valleys were forty years ago, will readily admit, that only the highest courage, and most indomitable energy and perseverance, could have made the township what it is today in the same space of time. Had their work to be done over again, could a magician's wand once more make Dumfries the tangled forest it was when this history began, we venture to say their descendants would never undertake to perform it! Reminiscences of the Early History of Galt and the Settlement of Dumfries in the Province of Ontario, by James Young, 1880 Toronto: Hunter, Rose ____________________ Death of Mr. Thomas Ritchie The death of this gentleman, which occurred on Monday evening last, at the residence of Mr. Thos. Dalgleish in this town, can not be said to have been unexpected. For months he had been a very severe sufferer and frequently, during that time, his life was despaired of. Mr. Ritchie was born in the town of Peebles, Peeblesshire, Scotland, and came to this country in 1831. On arriving here, he entered the service of the original founder of the Dickson Estate, the first Wm. Dickson and was with him for about nine years. During this time he purchased the farm near Ayr, and on leaving Mr. Dickson, he went on to it, taking his share of all the trials of the early settlers' life. While living there he married his late wife, a sister of the Messrs. Barrie, of North Dumfries. Two of his children died young, - his daughter, Mrs. Robert Sudden, a few years ago, - leaving as sole survivor, Mr. James Ritchie, of Balmore, County of Huron. The deceased gentleman was very widely known in this section and enjoyed the warm friendship and personal regard of all who knew him intimately. He was possessed of good abilities, was a diligent reader and consequently was a very intelligent, pleasing companion. He visited Scotland either twice of thrice since he first emigrated. On his first voyage here he was twelve weeks on the ocean, and it was always a fruitful topic of conversation with him, the wonderful revolution which steam had made in ocean travel. "Twelve weeks the first time I came over and now in ten or eleven days from leaving home I can be back in the scenes of my boyhood." The last trip he took to Scotland seemed to lay the foundation of the illness from which he died. While in Scotland he was not well and on the way out he caught a very severe cold, and when he landed back in Galt his friends were pained to see that he had failed greatly. Since then his sufferings at times have been very great. They were borne with great patience and quiet submission; such a thing as a complaint was never heard from him. As long as he could he moved around amongst his friends and showed to them a serene cheerfulness. Mr. George Bruce, whose death we noticed last week, and Mr. Ritchie, for many years were close friends and companions. Of those who crossed the Atlantic on the same voyage as Mr. Ritchie, there are yet living in this section, Mr. Wm. Hardy, of Ayr, and Mr. Walter Heastie, of North Dumfries. Galt Reporter Jul 4 1884 pg 1

  
  

• Sources

  [S530] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge - Pioneer Pergola (formerly St. Andrews Presbyterian) CC#4488 Internet Link. In memory of/ James Ritchie/ who died in Feb. 1848/ aged 62 years/ Also of the children of/ Thomas & Helen Ritchie/ George died in March 1843/ aged 6 months/ Charlotte died in July 1848/ aged 6 months [S330] Directory - ON, Waterloo - 1864 - County of Waterloo gazetteer and general business directory for 1864. [S355] Census - ON, Waterloo, North Dumfries - 1871, Div. 2, Page 62. [S1778] Census - ON, Waterloo, North Dumfries - 1861, Div 3 Page 27.

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 1812 - Traquair, , Peebles, Scotland Immigration - 1831 - , Canada Land - Directory - 1864 - North Dumfries Concession 08 Lot 29, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - 1868 - North Dumfries Concession 08 Lot 29, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Farmer - 1871 - North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - C. Presb. - 1871 - North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - Cause: Bright's Disease 6 months - 30 Jun 1884 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Buried - - Pioneer Pergola Cemetery, St. Andrew's Park, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth