Squire Thomas Lepard

Abt 1775 -

• Name	Thomas Lepard
  Prefix	Squire
  Born	Abt 1775	, England
  Gender	Male
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-85636
  Died	Dundas, West Flamborough Twp., Wentworth Co., Ontario, Canada
  Person ID	I85636	Generations
  Last Modified	7 Nov 2024

  
  

  Family	Mrs.,   d. Oct 1831
  Children	1. Lepard,   b. Abt 1795,   d. CA 1819, , India  (Age ~ 24 years)   2. Mary Ann Lepard,   b. 1816, , England ,   d. 8 May 1894, Oakley Township, Muskoka District, Ontario  (Age 78 years)
  Last Modified	12 Nov 2024
  Family ID	F27995	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  The village of Shade's Mills was the most important place within a radius of twenty miles, but its growth, continued to be very tardy. In the year 1827, however a circumstance occurred, which will be noticed presently, and which somewhat improved its fortunes. 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 Woolwich (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. Finding 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. Mackenzie sub-divided the acre into lots, and erected a small frame house on one of them for his own use. Some time after this, Mary Ann Lepard married a shiftless fellow named Benjamin Tribe, who resided near Elora. Matters had proceeded thus far, when the question 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. H. 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. Mackkenzie, 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 Stiver 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 9 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 and 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 retorted by commencing an action against Mr. Miller for Champerty or buying a disputed title. We need not follow the proceedings further than to say, that they occasioned much interestin 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 7 in the 5th Concession of South Dumfries. Becoming old, he subsequently 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, James Young, pg 45 ______________________________ Thomas Lepard and his wife were among the first who came from England to settle on the Pilkington estate. Lepard was Clerk of the Works at Weedon, or Weden, as it is also spelt. They are said to have been in comfortable circumstances in England, 'hired' a ship to convey the party to Canada; even brought out their family carriage, which they could not, for want of roads, bring any farther than Galt, and there left it. The house that Lepard built was near that now occupied by Mr. Mutrie. It is described as an odd looking structure, like three houses set down together. In the centre was a large room that was used for the transaction of business connected with the estate. It was also expected that in this room courts would be held, for, being a magistrate, the owner was generally called 'Old' Squire Lepard. Mr. Lepard had a son who died in India leaving a widow and daughter, who was Mary Ann Lepard. These, with Katie Nevitt, as she was called accompanied Mr. and Mrs. Lepard to Canada. Shortly after coming to Pilkington Mrs. Lepard, jr., whose maiden name was Callaway, went to live in Dundas. She married James Taylor, who had, a hotel in Galt. He died of the cholera in Hamilton. Mrs. Lepard, sr., died in October, 1831, and was buried on that part of the farm which, it was expected, would have been the Churchyard. Squire Lepard soon went to Dundas, where he died. Mary Ann Lepard, having gone along with her mother to live in Galt, she there met, and on April 10th, 1837, was married to Benjamin Tribe, who then came to live on Squire Lepard's farm. Benjamin Tribe died in 1848 at the age of thirty-four. Mrs. Tribe continued to live on this farm until 1879, when she went along with her son, Robert Tribe, to Muskoka and died there on May 11th, 1894, at the age of seventy-seven. In the family of Benjamin Tribe and Mary Ann Lepard there were: Robert, who was twice married, first to Mary Ann Lister, of Eramosa, then, at her death, to Margaret Gordon, daughter of the late Andrew Gordon, of Elora. They are now living at Devlin, in the Rainy River District. Thomas married Mary Kennedy and lived in Guelph; Catharine married Robert Winfield, and one daughter, Sarah Jane, died at an early age. Kate Nevitt, who was a niece of Mrs Lepard, sr., married John Hamilton, a lawyer, in Guelph, and died in the General Hospital there. The Early History of Elora, Ontario, and Vicinity by John R. Connon

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - Abt 1775 - , England Died - - Dundas, West Flamborough Twp., Wentworth Co., Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth