Waterloo Region Generations
A record of the people of Waterloo Region, Ontario.
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Patrick White

Male 1842 - 1903  (60 years)


Personal Information    |    Notes    |    Sources    |    Event Map    |    All    |    PDF

  • Name Patrick White 
    Born 21 Nov 1842  , Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6] 
    Gender Male 
    Immigration 1855  [1] 
    Occupation tollgate operator 
    Galt-TollGateBuilding-0001.jpg    		 Galt-TollGateBuilding-0001.jpg
    Residence 1864  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2] 
    Occupation 1871  North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [6] 
    Agricultural Laborer 
    Residence 1871  North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [6] 
    Lot 5 Con 10 
    Residence 1871  North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [6] 
    Roman Catholic 
    Occupation 1881  North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [4] 
    Farmer 
    Residence 1881  North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [4] 
    Roman Catholic 
    Occupation 1891  North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [5] 
    Farmer 
    Residence 1891  North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [5] 
    Roman Catholic 
    Occupation 1901  North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1] 
    Farmer 
    Eby ID Number Waterloo-74333 
    Died 2 May 1903  [3] 
    Buried Saint Mary's of the Visitation Cemetery, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [3] 
    Person ID I74333  Generations
    Last Modified 3 Mar 2025 

    Father Edward White,   b. Abt 1811, Of, Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Bef 1871  (Age ~ 59 years) 
    Mother Mary Ryan,   b. 1820, , Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown 
    Family ID F23115  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Jane Skelly,   b. 20 Oct 1836, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 10 Aug 1912  (Age 75 years) 
    Married 17 Jan 1864  Paris, Brant County, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 5, 6] 
    Children 
     1. Mary White,   b. 1864, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     2. Edmund "Ed" White,   b. 1866, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     3. Margaret "Maggie" White,   b. 5 May 1868, Beverly Twp., Wentworth Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1940  (Age 71 years)
     4. Julius White,   b. Mar 1870, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     5. Julia White,   b. 25 May 1875, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 27 Dec 1917  (Age 42 years)
     6. James "Jim" White,   b. 5 Sep 1877, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
    Last Modified 4 Mar 2025 
    Family ID F19331  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • Man inherits lock for old Galt tollgate.


      The lock Ken Simpson holds is large and heavy, made to withstand the perils of time. It was passed down to him from his father, Oscar, and once secured the tollgate that crossed the old Stone road at the corner of Main Street and the Dundas Highway.

      Most people would be surprised to learn that if you lived in Galt in the 1800s, or were a farmer just down the highway towards Dundas, and you wanted to use that road, you were required to pay a toll.

      More than a half-century ago Howard Cant discovered A photograph of the old toll gate amongst his souvenirs of the past. The Galt Reporter reprinted it almost immediately, evoking many memories for old-time residents. But by a strange coincidence, 79-year-old Albert Robb was visiting town from Thessalon and had been interviewed by a reporter just days before. It was his first visit to his old hometown in 60 years, since he left Galt at the age of 19 in 1890. As a boy his chore was to open the gate for travellers over the old road.

      Albert's mother, Mrs. Jas. Robb, had operated the toll gate before Patrick White. The fee at that time was five Cents. White, who was also a milkman in town, was the last gatekeeper. He lived in close proximity to the tollgate headquarters, in a big white frame house in which his grandson, Ed Taylor, was to inhabit. Pat White's sons, Jim and Ed, took turns as gatekeepers. By then, the fee had gone up to 10 cents a vehicle, though farmers paid a reduced annual fee because of their frequent use of the road to do business.

      The old Stone road to Dundas, originally of corduroy construction, was privately built. It had been the main incoming road to Galt since the town was founded in 1816, and it had been difficult to build, as it crossed the Beverly Swamp, where it is said that some people who entered were never seen again.

      AS for the lock that came down to Ken Simpson, the story of how it made its way into his hands is rather interesting.

      As was noted, Ken inherited the lock from his father Oscar. Oscar was given the lock from Harold Jenkins. Jenkins, who never married, was a local thrasher who went to the Ed Taylor farm (where the Swiss Chalet/Harvey's, as well as South Cambridge Centre are now located) to thrash. Hooked over the granary board in the barn, which became a coal shed, was this lock, a lock that was old even then.

      Said Harold to Ed: "If you're going to leave that lock there, then I'm going to take it home."

      Replied Ed: "Well, if you're going to take it home, I'm going to get the key for you."

      Jenkins had quite a collection of historical memorabilia and wanted the lock to go to Oscar Simpson, who farmed out near Branchton. Among the Jenkins' memorabilia was a bike that his older brother once rode over a high wire stretched across Niagara Falls. For years, recalls Ken, the bike sat collecting dust up in the hayloft of the Branchton Hotel barn that Harold's mother had run. She was a Hammer stein from the States, and related to the musical Oscar Hammerstein of Rodgers and Hammerstein fame.

      Journalist Dave Menary is a lifelong residence of Cambridge. His column runs every Tuesday.

      Cambridge Times 14 Jan 2003

  • Sources 
    1. [S180] Census - ON, Waterloo, North Dumfries - 1901, Dumfries (North) B-2 Page 6.

    2. [S50] Vit - ON, Brant - Marriage Register 1858-1869.
      Patrick White Born: Ireland Res: Galt Age: 22 Born: abt 1842 Father: Edward Mother: Mary Ryan Spouse: Jane Skelly Age: 25 Born: abt 1839 born: Canada Res: Galt Father: Will'm Skelly Mother: Mary Halpin married 17 Jan 1864 married: Paris

    3. [S576] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge - St. Mary of the Visitation Roman Catholic CC#6307.
      I.H.S./ In memory of/ Patrick White/ Who died/ May 2nd, 1903/ Aged 61 years/ May his soul rest in peace/ In memory of/ Jane Skelly/ Wife of/ Patrick White/ Died/ Aug. 10, 1912/ Aged 74 years/ May her soul rest in peace/ White/ Back - John H. Taylor/ Died Aug. 21, 1943, Aged 77 years/ His wife/ Julia White/ died Dec. 27, 1917, Aged 48 years/ Rest in Peace/ Right side - James White/ Died/ April 13th, 1905/ In his 32nd year/ May his soul rest in peace/ Scott, Galt/ 4 corner markers - White/

    4. [S205] Census - ON, Waterloo, North Dumfries - 1881, Div. 1 Page 60.

    5. [S2042] Census - ON, Waterloo, North Dumfries - 1891, Sect. 2 Page 49.

    6. [S355] Census - ON, Waterloo, North Dumfries - 1871, Sect. 1 Page 26.

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 21 Nov 1842 - , Ireland Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1864 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Agricultural Laborer - 1871 - North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Lot 5 Con 10 - 1871 - North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Roman Catholic - 1871 - North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Farmer - 1881 - North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Roman Catholic - 1881 - North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Farmer - 1891 - North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Roman Catholic - 1891 - North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Farmer - 1901 - North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - - Saint Mary's of the Visitation Cemetery, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 


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