Visit to Rice Lake Indians - 1827


COPYRIGHT (c) 2004 Michael Stephenson

No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted by any means including photocopying or electronic transfers, without written permission.


Hamilton, Newcastle District, 1827

Rev. and Dear Sir:--the Rice Lake Indians having embraced the gospel during the fourteen months past, have often solicited a school that their children might learn to read the good book. But as yet they had had no settled residence, nor had we funds to support a school. On our return from conference, in September, they came out to meet us here, and renewed their request. I said to the chief, “You are now going far away to your hunting grounds. You will not need a school till spring.” To this they replied, “If we can have a school, we will leave our women and children. Our women make baskets and brooms, buy flour and meat for our children while at school.” This was spoken with an air of so much anxiety, that we concluded to make an effort in their favour, Messrs. J M’Carty and E. Perry having kindly offered to procure the building of the house, a pious youth was engaged as a teacher. When we informed them of our intention to comply with their wishes, they appeared highly gratified, and in the month of October they departed upon their hunting excursions, leaving their women and children to attend the school.

Yesterday, in company with a friend, I visited Rice Lake, which lies about twelve miles to the north side of this. We found the house nearly completed: it is situated in the midst of a wood not far from the lake shore. The teacher, who is now here, will commence the school in about two weeks. Several wigwams were already erected, and other families were soon expected in. We entered one of these smoky cabins, sang a hymn in Indian, and prayed. Altho’ the Indians understood but little we said in prayer, they appeared delighted, and as an expression of their gratitude they offered us a quantity of wild rice, we accepted of about a quart, of which we afterwards took a pleasant and hearty meal. The school, it is presumed, will consist of more than twenty scholars thro’ the winter. As we hope these Christians of the forest will be remembered in the prayers of Zion, so we trust we shall not be forgotten by the wealthy and benevolent, who pray for the salvation of the heathen.

As ever, in love, W. Case


Search the Ontario (Upper Canada) Genealogy Website - Make sure to use all known variations of a family name in your search!

index sitemap advanced
site search by freefind


Historical Tales From the Archives - A Selection of Stories, Recollections, Reminiscences and Travel Experiences in Times Gone By  New Site 2021

20th Century Ontario Genealogy Newspaper Notices Index New March 2020

Upper Canada Ontario Surrogate Court Estate Files and Will Database New March 2019

Ontario Canada Historical Map Site New December 2018

Ontario Place Locator - 19th Century Ontario Town and Village Locations and Inhabitants

Upper Canada (Ontario) Pioneer Settler Land Locations, Census Records and Property Descriptions 

Historical Visits to Ontario Villages and Towns  Take a trip back in time to the late 19th century and explore the towns and villages where your ancestors lived, loved, laboured, laughed and played.

Ontario Images of the Past Thousands of Images of City, Town, Village and Country Life

Ontario Land Registry Records Research Thousands of your ancestors and where they lived in Ontario 

Upper Canada (Ontario) Newspaper Notices Database 

Ontario Genealogy Newspaper Notices Database

Ontario (Upper Canada) History and Pioneer Family Research 

Queen's Own Rifles - Old Photos of Members

Upper Canada District Maps (Circa 1800)

Upper Canada (Ontario) History Books On-Line Index

Ontario County Directories Victoria, Haliburton, Hastings, Peterborough, Durham, Northumberland, Muskoka, and Old Ontario County

Central Upper Canada (Ontario) Marriage Database 22650 Marriage Records Indexed 

Central Upper Canada Baptism Database 25000 Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic and Church of Scotland Marriages indexed 

Upper Canada (Central Ontario) Burial Database 4500 Anglican, Roman Catholic, Methodist and Church of Scotland Burials indexed 

Eastern Upper Canada Marriage Database Anglican, Roman Catholic and Church of Scotland Marriages indexed 

Eastern Upper Canada Baptism Database Anglican, Roman Catholic and Church of Scotland Baptisms indexed 

Eastern Upper Canada Burial Database 

Upper Canada (Western Ontario) Marriage Database

Upper Canada (Western Ontario) Baptism Database  

Upper Canada (Western Ontario) Burial Database 

Upper Canada Land Petitions 51000 Records Indexed

Upper Canada Land Leases and Miscellaneous Petitions 10000 Records Indexed

Upper Canada (Ontario) Sundries Database

Upper Canada (Ontario) Toronto Insane Asylum Database

Upper Canada (Ontario) Kingston Insane Asylum Database

Upper Canada (Ontario) London Insane Asylum Database

Upper Canada (Ontario) Malden Insane Asylum Database

Upper Canada (Ontario) Hamilton Insane Asylum Database

Ontario Genealogy Historical Newspaper Collection Historical Newspaper Files from various regions of Ontario

Newspaper Genealogical and Historical Records - Thousands of entries

Ontario (Upper Canada) Map Collection  Great site for locating your ancestors in Ontario

Ontario Genealogy Postcard Site - Great old-time landscape views

Upper Canada and Ontario CRIMINAL Database 

Ontario Genealogy Database Index Site 500000 Genealogy Records Indexed

Need HELP With Your Family Research?

Northumberland County Genealogy and History

Victoria County Genealogy and History

Durham County Genealogy and History

Haliburton County Genealogy and History

Peterborough County History and Genealogy

Newcastle District (Upper Canada) History and Genealogy

Ontario County History and Genealogy

Upper Canada History and Genealogy

Echoes of the Past - Ontario Genealogy Home


Search the Ontario (Upper Canada) Genealogy Website - Make sure to use all known variations of a family name in your search!

index sitemap advanced
site search by freefind


Contact Ontario Genealogy