| Notes |
Source: The Canadian Biographical Dictionary--in the Toronto Library).
He emigrated to Canada wih his family in 1798 from New Hampshire in the depth of winter, and before heir arrival in Canada passed through a series of difficulties and dangers (scarcely understood or appreciated in these days of quick and luxurious locomotion).
They journeyed with ox teams and sleighs, and came west through the northern part of New York State until they reached the Niagara Rivers. Above the Falls the stream was found to be frozen over. As it was late in the day, they waited ‘til morning before crossing. At daybreak, what was their dismay to find that ice on which they had depended for a safe and easy passage of the river had disappeared during the night. But the head of the family did not despair. Having a little knowledge of the sailor’s art, he determined to attempt the ford by means of an old flat-bottomed boat, moored to the bank a short distance up the river.
He first cut a long pole and lashed it firmly across the boat, letting the ends of the pole extend over the sides of the craft. This done, he drove an ox team into the river, one each side up to the oxen, and by making them swim the river the boat was thus propelled, the whole at length arriving safely on the Canadian shore.
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