Morgan L. Herman

1790 - Yes, date unknown

• Name	Morgan L. Herman
  Born	CA 1790	of, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  Gender	Male
  Interesting	hotel, tavern, life story
  Occupation	1821	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  	tavern owner [hotel keeper, inn keeper, tavern keeper]
  Map	1822	North Dumfries Concession 11 Lot 01, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  Name	Morgan L. Hermonts
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-45486
  Died	Yes, date unknown
  Person ID	I45486	Generations
  Last Modified	7 Nov 2024

  
  

• Notes

  Morgan Hermonts was the owner of the first tavern built in Galt. Open 1823 burned down abt 1834. Cambridge Mosaic , Jim Quantrell, 1998, City of Cambridge [abbreviated snippet from original text in book] ____________________ About the year 1821, what is apt to be one of the earliest "institutions" of a new settlement was erected, namely, a tavern. It was a small one-and-a-half story frame building, situated near the corner of Main and Water Streets, a little north of where Woods and Taylor's store now stands. It was first opened by one Morgan L. Hermonts; two years afterwards one John Clark* become the landlord, and subsequently it fell into the hands of a man named James Taylor. Some idea of the value of property over half a century ago, may be obtained from the fact, that Taylor offered the hotel, stables and lot, to a gentleman still living in Galt, for $300, and failed to find a purchaser. Ten years afterwards, however, we find their value had greatly increased. This acre of ground, situated in the very heart of Galt, was one of the first parts of Dumfries deeded away by Mr. Dickson, and ultimately gave rise to most vexatious legal proceedings. Taylor was related to, and ultimately disposed of the property to Mr. Thomas Lepard, of Wool-wich (afterwards of Dundas), who, at his death, willed it to his daughter, Mary Ann Lepard, who was his only child. Mr. Thomas G. Chapman was appointed executor. Find-ing the personal estate inadequate to liquidate the debts, he advertised the lot to be sold by public auction, when it was knocked down to Mr. Thomas Mackenzie, who was a mill-wright by trade, and had recently arrived in Galt from Nova Scotia. This was about the time of the rebellion, and the price obtained was $1,600 - a very considerable rise above the modest sum at which Taylor had offered to sell it some years previously. Mr. Mac-kenzie sub-divided the acre into lots, and erected a small frame house on one of them for his own use. Sometime after this, Mary Ann Lepard married a shift-less fellow named Benjamin Tribe, who resided near Elora. Matters had proceeded thus far, when the ques-tion arose as to whether the executor, Mr. Chapman, had the right to sell the lot, although it was for the payment of the debts of the estate. A case was submitted to Mr. W. If.. Draper, of Toronto, for his opinion. He decided adversely, which was a most unpleasant discovery for Mr. Chapman, and still more so for Mr. Mackenzie, who, with buying and building, had sunk all his hard-earned money. There was a general consultation held by Messrs. Mackenzie, Chapman, Shade and Adam Ainslie (the latter is now a resident of Leith), and it was arranged that the three gentlemen last mentioned should go on an expedition, combining pleasure with business, namely, to drive to Elora, see Tribe and wife, endeavour to get a confirmation of Mackenzie's title, and then fish down the Grand River home again. To make a long story short, Tribe agreed to confirm the title for $150, and came down to Mr. Ainslie's office the following week for the purpose. Mr. Ainslie appointed 3 o'clock that afternoon for him and his wife to come and execute the necessary papers. The hour arrived, but they did not. The next day it was ascertained that Tribe had sold out all his own arid his wife's interest to Mr. John Miller, Barrister, had executed a deed for the acre lot, and left the village This was sad news for Mackenzie, and made the difficulties far greater than ever. Two legal suits immediately ensued. Miller began a Chancery suit to dispossess Mackenzie, and Mr. Ainslie re-torted by commencing an action against Mr. Miller for Champerty,, or buying a disputed title. We need not follow the legal proceedings further than to say, that they occasioned much interest in the courts of the Province, and quite excited the little village whilst the result was pending. Unlike many lawsuits, however, all came out right in the end. Mr. Mackenzie was confirmed in his title, and Mr. Miller, whom the jury amerced in the sum of £500, had the verdict set aside at the next term, as being contrary to law. * Clarke long went by the name of "Old Johnny Clarke," and is well remembered for his loquaciousness and other peculiarities. He owned the farm of Rosehill, adjoining Galt, at one time, but sold it, and took up Lot No. 7 in the 5th Concession of South Dumfries. Becoming old, he subse went to reside with some friends at Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he, survived until a few years ago. Reminiscences of the Early History of Galt and the Settlement of Dumfries in the Province of Ontario, by James Young, 1880 Toronto: Hunter, Rose,

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - CA 1790 - of, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - tavern owner [hotel keeper, inn keeper, tavern keeper] - 1821 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth